Art Bell

Whatever critics might say about George Noory, he earns credit for keeping an open mind. In fact, Noory's unmatched success on overnight talk radio may be due to his willingness to think the unthinkable -- such as when NASA gadfly Richard C. Hoagland rails about a government cover-up of ancient structures on the moon, or when a listener calls to report being attacked in bed by a dark, malevolent spirit. "It sounds kind of farfetched," Noory conceded of the latter, "yet I can't tell you how many people have had this syndrome . . . the 'Old Hag Syndrome.

Whatever critics might say about George Noory, he earns credit for keeping an open mind. In fact, Noory's unmatched success on overnight talk radio may be due to his willingness to think the unthinkable -- such as when NASA gadfly Richard C. Hoagland rails about a government cover-up of ancient structures on the moon, or when a listener calls to report being attacked in bed by a dark, malevolent spirit. "It sounds kind of farfetched," Noory conceded of the latter, "yet I can't tell you how many people have had this syndrome . . . the 'Old Hag Syndrome.

Art Bell's radio syndication company remains hopeful that the popular overnight host, who suddenly ended his "Coast to Coast" show last Tuesday, will return to the airwaves sometime soon. It will keep the program going with guest hosts. Kraig T. Kitchin, president and chief operating officer of Premiere Radio Networks, said in a brief interview Friday from the National Assn. of Broadcasters convention in Seattle that "I am certainly optimistic that Art will be back very soon.

Syndicated radio talk show host Art Bell, whose late-night talk of UFO sightings and conspiracy theories made him famous, has announced his retirement. Bell, 57, told listeners this week that he'll retire because of back problems. Regular guest host George Noory will replace Bell on Jan. 1. Barbara Simpson will host on weekends. Bell plans to be an occasional guest host for Noory. "Coast to Coast AM," heard locally from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

It was no April Fool's joke when popular overnight radio host Art Bell told his "Coast to Coast AM" audience around midnight Friday: "I am going to retire, and it is going to be a permanent retirement." He told listeners on the 460 stations around the country that carry his show, including those tuned into KABC-AM (790), that with the ongoing torment he and his family have been suffering because of personal events, leaving the program was necessary. His final broadcast will be April 26. Kraig T.

In a stunning announcement Tuesday, syndicated late-night radio host Art Bell told listeners at the end of his "Coast to Coast" program that he was delivering "my final broadcast" because of fear for the safety of his family. Bell, who has been airing locally on KABC-AM (790) for the last three years, didn't specify his concerns but alluded to something that happened about a year ago, calling it "a threatening, terrible event [that] occurred to my family, which I could not tell you about.

"I will be on the air from 7 at night till 3 in the morning, so my celebration is set," Art Bell said lightly. "Unless I go off the air, in which case I'll drink champagne and toast the darkness." Bell, the king of night-owl radio, was talking about New Year's Eve. In a first for his syndicated talk program, he'll start broadcasting from his remote home base in the Nevada desert three hours ahead of his usual 10 p.m. opening Friday. Just in case.

Mike Siegel, a veteran talk radio broadcaster who for the past several years has been a regular fill-in for syndicated radio hosts around the country, has been named as the replacement for popular overnight host Art Bell. Kraig T.

Talk-radio host Art Bell is talking about how he realized when his big break came: At the end of 1994, Los Angeles' late-night fixture Ray Briem left KABC-AM (790), and a vacuum had to be filled. Briem loved eccentric nocturnal callers; so does Bell. Briem adored ham and amateur radio; so does Bell. Briem was firmly on the political right; Bell, on many issues, leans to the right.

Criticizing the use of a racial epithet, The Times editorial ("A Slur Is a Slur," Aug. 30) said, " . . . regardless of the context, the slur is absolutely inappropriate in any situation." Then the editorial used the offensive word four times, which proves the point Calabro is trying to explain. ART BELL Woodland Hills

Mike Siegel, a veteran talk radio broadcaster who for the past several years has been a regular fill-in for syndicated radio hosts around the country, has been named as the replacement for popular overnight host Art Bell. Kraig T.

It was no April Fool's joke when popular overnight radio host Art Bell told his "Coast to Coast AM" audience around midnight Friday: "I am going to retire, and it is going to be a permanent retirement." He told listeners on the 460 stations around the country that carry his show, including those tuned into KABC-AM (790), that with the ongoing torment he and his family have been suffering because of personal events, leaving the program was necessary. His final broadcast will be April 26. Kraig T.

"I will be on the air from 7 at night till 3 in the morning, so my celebration is set," Art Bell said lightly. "Unless I go off the air, in which case I'll drink champagne and toast the darkness." Bell, the king of night-owl radio, was talking about New Year's Eve. In a first for his syndicated talk program, he'll start broadcasting from his remote home base in the Nevada desert three hours ahead of his usual 10 p.m. opening Friday. Just in case.

STAGE Premature Exit: The acclaimed rock musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" will close prematurely on Sunday, losing its entire $600,000 investment. "The city didn't rise to the occasion," said co-producer Joan Stein. Referring to lead actor Michael Cerveris, Stein said that "if this city had any theater moxie, it would have carried him through the streets on silk pillows."

Intern with a blue dress, blue dress, blue dress. . . . The person of the year on radio was someone whose voice we didn't even really get to hear until last month. But try to imagine 1998 on the airwaves without Monica Lewinsky. It's not a pleasant thought. We had a year with nothing to talk about in 1997--O.J. wound down, there were no elections, and no home-run chase or NBA lockout. Ewwwww. Gives you the creeps just thinking about it.

Art Bell's radio syndication company remains hopeful that the popular overnight host, who suddenly ended his "Coast to Coast" show last Tuesday, will return to the airwaves sometime soon. It will keep the program going with guest hosts. Kraig T. Kitchin, president and chief operating officer of Premiere Radio Networks, said in a brief interview Friday from the National Assn. of Broadcasters convention in Seattle that "I am certainly optimistic that Art will be back very soon.

Senate Judiciary Committee compendium: Sens. Biden--bungling; Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.)--pacifying; Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.)--probing; Charles Grassley (R-Iowa)--dim; Hatch--smooth; Howell Heflin (D-Ala.)--folksy; Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.)--vacuous; Kennedy--windy; Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)--parochial; Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio)--contentious; Paul Simon (D-Ill.)--AWOL; Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.)--puckish; Arlen Specter (R-Pa.)--penetrating; Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.)--laconic. ART BELL JIM BELL Woodland Hills

Syndicated radio talk show host Art Bell, whose late-night talk of UFO sightings and conspiracy theories made him famous, has announced his retirement. Bell, 57, told listeners this week that he'll retire because of back problems. Regular guest host George Noory will replace Bell on Jan. 1. Barbara Simpson will host on weekends. Bell plans to be an occasional guest host for Noory. "Coast to Coast AM," heard locally from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.