Lionel (radio)
Encyclopedia
Michael William Lebron popularly known as Lionel, is an American nationally syndicated radio talk show host. Beginning May 2007, he hosted a daily three-hour radio talk show on Air America Radio
. Lionel was a consistent performer for Air America and drew weekly audiences of around 1.5 million people. On March 22, 2010, Lionel began a nightly commentary on New York's WPIX
Channel 11 owned by Tribune Company
. LionelMedia.com launched on June 23, 2010. It will cover all media activities creating the 24/7/365 World of Lionel.
In radio for many years, The Lionel Show started in 2000 and was nationally-syndicated on the WOR Radio Network
, broadcasting from the studios of WOR
710 AM in New York.
. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of South Florida
in 1980, Lionel worked as a District Aide for Florida United States Senator
Richard "Dick" Stone and in his unsuccessful campaign for reelection. Lionel graduated from the Stetson University College of Law, and as trial lawyer worked as both prosecutor for the Hillsborough County Florida State Attorney's Office (13th Judicial Circuit) and criminal defense trial lawyer thereafter. He began his radio career as a host at WFLA
970 AM in his hometown of Tampa
from 1988 to 1993.
For years, Lionel had been a frequent caller to local shows, eventually becoming a "chronic", which is industry vernacular for frequent callers. His notoriety was such that he began using aliases and different personas to get on the air. His most enduring moniker is in honor of Francis Lionel "Lion" Delbuchi, the character played by Al Pacino
in the movie Scarecrow. WPLP
, WFLA's rival station across Tampa Bay, offered him a talk show; Lionel declined, both because WPLP paid very little and because he was afraid it would affect his law career. In October 1988 WFLA management called and gave him an unbeatable offer to move behind the microphone as a Sunday afternoon host. In January 1989, he moved to middays (nine to noon) Monday through Friday. Seven months later, he took the afternoon drive position where he remained until 1993. When he did, he quickly became a ratings success, using a lively mix of humor and current events. He was hired away by WABC
770 AM, a news-talk station in New York City when a former ABC
network president, Jim Arcara, heard Lionel's show during vacations in Florida and lured him to the Big Apple. He set ratings records for WABC as its morning-drive host during the mid-1990s. During one period, Lionel did both morning drive and afternoon drive for a period immediately following talk radio legend Bob Grant
's departure from WABC.
In the late 1990s, toward the end of his tenure at WABC, Lionel also hosted the CourtTV law show Snap Judgment
. He also provided a daily update on WCBS 880 AM during the Clinton impeachment
process. In 2000, he began his national radio show, The Lionel Show, originally syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks
through 2001. His show was then syndicated by independent Rex Broadcasting until 2003, when it was picked up by the WOR Radio Network in New York City.It was broadcasted six days a week (9 pm-midnight ET weekdays, and 5-8 pm ET Saturdays). In 2000 and 2001, in addition to his radio work, Lionel was a morning host on an Internet
-based talk radio site, eYada.com until 2001.
From May 2007 to January 2010, he hosted a daily three-hour radio talk show on Air America Radio
. Moved from the 9 am to noon (ET) slot on May 26, 2009, Lionel returned to Air America to host a show from 6 am to 9 am EST and remained until the network closed in on January 25, 2010. In both 2007 and 2009, Talkers Magazine
included Lionel on their list of "The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America" at number 23, and estimated his the show's audience at 1.75 million unique listeners per week. The magazine described him as "a uniquely witty and intellectual personality" and "defying categorization".
He has released a comedy album titled You Don't Look Like You Sound in 1996 and fronted a bluegrass
band called Lock 'n' Load. Lebron wrote a book, "Everyone's Crazy Except You and Me... And I'm Not So Sure About You: America's Favorite Contrarian Cuts Loose". It was published by Hyperion and was released on August 5, 2008. On March 22, 2010, Lionel began a nightly commentary on New York's WPIX Channel 11.
political philosophy, Lionel describes himself as a political atheist. He personally eschews such labels and repeatedly criticizes those who hold opinions simply out of allegiance to a word like "conservative" or "liberal." He repeatedly professes the notion that the left-right paradigm is but an illusion.
Many of his stances, such as opposition to some forms of gun control, are not shared by most liberals. He opposes the death penalty on the grounds that the justice system is far too unreliable to be entrusted with that power, and favors decriminalization of drug use and of prostitution. He supported gay and "intragender" marriage, not a popular view among social conservatives. He strongly opposed the Iraq War since around 2004. He asks callers to take the Lionel Challenge: Try explicating or describing a political philosophy or point without using a label. Some, he contends, find it impossible. During a discussion on his show about illegal immigration to the United States
, Lionel stated his ancestry was Afro-Puerto Rican, Sicilian
, Scots-Irish, German and French
.
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
. Lionel was a consistent performer for Air America and drew weekly audiences of around 1.5 million people. On March 22, 2010, Lionel began a nightly commentary on New York's WPIX
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
Channel 11 owned by Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
. LionelMedia.com launched on June 23, 2010. It will cover all media activities creating the 24/7/365 World of Lionel.
In radio for many years, The Lionel Show started in 2000 and was nationally-syndicated on the WOR Radio Network
WOR Radio Network
The WOR Radio Network is a slate of nationally syndicated radio programming produced and distributed by flagship radio station WOR in New York City...
, broadcasting from the studios of WOR
WOR (AM)
WOR is a class A , AM radio station located in New York, New York, U.S., operating on 710 kHz. The station has a talk format and has been owned by Buckley Broadcasting since 1987, after the station was sold by RKO. The station has conservative, or right-of-center hosts.Its call letters have no...
710 AM in New York.
Career
In his early years, he attended Jesuit High School of TampaJesuit High School of Tampa
Jesuit High School of Tampa, established in 1899, is a private, Catholic, all-male high school located in Tampa, Florida, USA. It operates independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.Jesuit of Tampa teaches a college...
. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
in 1980, Lionel worked as a District Aide for Florida United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Richard "Dick" Stone and in his unsuccessful campaign for reelection. Lionel graduated from the Stetson University College of Law, and as trial lawyer worked as both prosecutor for the Hillsborough County Florida State Attorney's Office (13th Judicial Circuit) and criminal defense trial lawyer thereafter. He began his radio career as a host at WFLA
WFLA (AM)
WFLA is an AM radio station in Tampa, Florida, serving the Arbitron Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market with additional listenership to the east in the adjacent Lakeland-Winter Haven market and to the south in the adjacent Sarasota-Bradenton market...
970 AM in his hometown of Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
from 1988 to 1993.
For years, Lionel had been a frequent caller to local shows, eventually becoming a "chronic", which is industry vernacular for frequent callers. His notoriety was such that he began using aliases and different personas to get on the air. His most enduring moniker is in honor of Francis Lionel "Lion" Delbuchi, the character played by Al Pacino
Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
in the movie Scarecrow. WPLP
WPLP
WPLP AM was the first 24-hour news/talk radio station in the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. It began broadcasting at 570 AM on December 4, 1978. Its image name was "News/Talk 57 WPLP: The Talk of Tampa Bay."...
, WFLA's rival station across Tampa Bay, offered him a talk show; Lionel declined, both because WPLP paid very little and because he was afraid it would affect his law career. In October 1988 WFLA management called and gave him an unbeatable offer to move behind the microphone as a Sunday afternoon host. In January 1989, he moved to middays (nine to noon) Monday through Friday. Seven months later, he took the afternoon drive position where he remained until 1993. When he did, he quickly became a ratings success, using a lively mix of humor and current events. He was hired away by WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
770 AM, a news-talk station in New York City when a former ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
network president, Jim Arcara, heard Lionel's show during vacations in Florida and lured him to the Big Apple. He set ratings records for WABC as its morning-drive host during the mid-1990s. During one period, Lionel did both morning drive and afternoon drive for a period immediately following talk radio legend Bob Grant
Bob Grant (radio)
Bob Grant , is an American radio host whose real name is Robert Ciro Gigante. A veteran of broadcasting in New York City, Grant is considered a pioneer of the "conservative" and "confrontational" talk radio format.-Early work:...
's departure from WABC.
In the late 1990s, toward the end of his tenure at WABC, Lionel also hosted the CourtTV law show Snap Judgment
Snap Judgment (legal comedy show)
Snap Judgment was a daily American legal comedy television program, which aired on CourtTV from 1999 to 2000, hosted by commentator Lionel, and created by The Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead....
. He also provided a daily update on WCBS 880 AM during the Clinton impeachment
Impeachment of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice on December 19, 1998, but acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge and a charge of abuse of...
process. In 2000, he began his national radio show, The Lionel Show, originally syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
through 2001. His show was then syndicated by independent Rex Broadcasting until 2003, when it was picked up by the WOR Radio Network in New York City.It was broadcasted six days a week (9 pm-midnight ET weekdays, and 5-8 pm ET Saturdays). In 2000 and 2001, in addition to his radio work, Lionel was a morning host on an Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
-based talk radio site, eYada.com until 2001.
From May 2007 to January 2010, he hosted a daily three-hour radio talk show on Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
. Moved from the 9 am to noon (ET) slot on May 26, 2009, Lionel returned to Air America to host a show from 6 am to 9 am EST and remained until the network closed in on January 25, 2010. In both 2007 and 2009, Talkers Magazine
Talkers magazine
Talkers Magazine is a trade industry publication related to talk radio in the United States. Its slogan is "The Bible of Talk Radio and the New Talk Media"...
included Lionel on their list of "The 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America" at number 23, and estimated his the show's audience at 1.75 million unique listeners per week. The magazine described him as "a uniquely witty and intellectual personality" and "defying categorization".
He has released a comedy album titled You Don't Look Like You Sound in 1996 and fronted a bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band called Lock 'n' Load. Lebron wrote a book, "Everyone's Crazy Except You and Me... And I'm Not So Sure About You: America's Favorite Contrarian Cuts Loose". It was published by Hyperion and was released on August 5, 2008. On March 22, 2010, Lionel began a nightly commentary on New York's WPIX Channel 11.
Philosophy
Originally espousing a largely libertarianLibertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
political philosophy, Lionel describes himself as a political atheist. He personally eschews such labels and repeatedly criticizes those who hold opinions simply out of allegiance to a word like "conservative" or "liberal." He repeatedly professes the notion that the left-right paradigm is but an illusion.
Many of his stances, such as opposition to some forms of gun control, are not shared by most liberals. He opposes the death penalty on the grounds that the justice system is far too unreliable to be entrusted with that power, and favors decriminalization of drug use and of prostitution. He supported gay and "intragender" marriage, not a popular view among social conservatives. He strongly opposed the Iraq War since around 2004. He asks callers to take the Lionel Challenge: Try explicating or describing a political philosophy or point without using a label. Some, he contends, find it impossible. During a discussion on his show about illegal immigration to the United States
Illegal immigration to the United States
An illegal immigrant in the United States is an alien who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa....
, Lionel stated his ancestry was Afro-Puerto Rican, Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, Scots-Irish, German and French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
.
In-jokes and other miscellany
- Theme song: Lionel adopted "Nina Morena" by the Gipsy KingsGipsy KingsThe Gipsy Kings are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, who perform in Spanish with an Andalucían accent. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. Chico Bouchikhi is of...
as his theme song, and he plays it at the top of every hour after commercial breaks. The song's opening line, which sounds like "Lionel!" repeatedlyMondegreenA mondegreen is the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase as a result of near homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning. It most commonly is applied to a line in a poem or a lyric in a song...
, caused him to "fall out of his chair" the first time he heard it. The closing theme song is "Soul MakossaSoul Makossa"Soul Makossa" is a 1972 single by Cameroonian makossa saxophonist Manu Dibango. It is often cited as one of the first disco records. In 1972 David Mancuso found a copy in a Brooklyn West Indian record store and often played it at his Loft parties. The response was so positive that the few copies...
" by Manu DibangoManu Dibango-External links:*...
.
- Head Lionels: Pronounced "Head line-els," a play on the term headlines and Lionel's name. A quick rundown of the day's news, a feature of the show that was added for the sake of the morning drive show, as due to the show's early time, those listening usually have yet to catch the news. The first segment of most hours are dedicated to "head Lionels," unless they have a guest at that time.
- 6AM-9AM Lionel Show Crew: Consists of the popular Pete "Beverly Hills" Conlin from his successful WOR show, and John, nicknamed "Multiple Meigs." Lionel describes Meigs as "someone who brings something to the show that's illegal in 12 states." They are joined by Melissa Exelberth, who provides a summary of top news stories, or "Stuff You Need to Know," (which has replaced "Head Lionels") in the first segment of each hour.
- Retarded Algonquin Round Table: A sarcastic reference to the original Algonquin Round TableAlgonquin Round TableThe Algonquin Round Table was a celebrated group of New York City writers, critics, actors and wits. Gathering initially as part of a practical joke, members of "The Vicious Circle", as they dubbed themselves, met for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 until roughly 1929...
, the "Retarded Algonquin Round Table" is a perhaps partially fictional collection of Lionel's less intelligent friends and drinking companions. Their idea of intelligent discourse is to repeat whatever they hear from Fox News, Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
, and right-wing bumper stickers.
- Barstool Diplomacy: The type of diplomacy advocated by members of the Retarded Algonquin Round Table. Usually involves the use of overwhelming military force, not excepting nuclear weapons, as the first move.
- Archie BunkerArchie BunkerArchibald "Archie" Bunker is a fictional New Yorker in the 1970s top-rated American television sitcom All in the Family and its spin-off Archie Bunker's Place, played to acclaim by Carroll O'Connor. Bunker is a veteran of World War II, reactionary, bigoted, conservative, blue-collar worker, and...
: A pseudonym for one commonly referred-to member of the Retarded Algonquin Round Table.
- Let's go back to the phones, back to the fun: A favorite phrase of Lionel's when returning from a commercial break and resuming the conversation with his callers. This tag line was originally used by the now deceased Bob Lassiter, national talk show host extraordinaire and Lionel's original "nemesis". Lionel developed much of his original material while calling into Bob's shows.
- The monkey's dead, the show's over ... sue ya: Lionel's end-of-show catch phrase, used since the early 1990s. "Sue ya" is a reference to his former profession. "The monkey's dead, the show's over" was originally spoken by a defeated political candidate in Tampa when asked for an election-night comment about his failed campaign. Lionel saw the quote in the next day's newspaper and has used it since.