It has definitely been an rollercoaster year for radio host, Art Bell. After the sudden passing of his longtime wife, Ramona, I had serious doubts that Art would continue to host Coast to Coast AM. Yes, he was only doing weekend shows at the time, but with his somewhat sporadic record of leaving and coming back again, I felt that certainly after such a deep, personal loss he would take the opportunity to finally call it quits. By all means, I wouldn't have held it against him if he did just that. However, Art Bell is a man full of surprises, and after a few understandable months off the air, he made his triumphant return to the weekend timeslot of Coast to Coast.

The first couple of episodes after his return were obviously tough for Art, who frequently got choked up while reciting his account of Ramona's unexpected death. Not to diminish his grief in any way, but as a long time listener of his, it was difficult for me to handle, as well. Quite unlike broadcast television, radio programs and their hosts seem to connect with me to a much stronger degree. Perhaps a lack of talent in both local and national news programs is partly to blame, but there's not much on TV that can compete with tuning in to your favorite radio show. Some say radio is dead, but I still think there's nothing else like it. In an extended format, daily program like Coast to Coast AM, hosts transcend that mere level of teleprompter reader and begin to feel more like close personal friends. Over years of listenership, you can witness the evolution of the host and grow along with them--through good times and bad. Because of all this, I felt the loss of Ramona Bell as if it was a death in my own family.

Before long after his return to Coast, Art announced another surprise in his life. His sudden relocation to the Philippines and marriage to a new wife was about as far out of left field as imaginable. I wont write any more on this particular subject (as I think it was pretty well covered at the time), but I will say that I was shocked at the amount of hate being expressed by members of the Coast to Coast audience. Granted, the suddenness of the marriage and age of his new wife was a bit irregular, but fans definitely seemed to have drank too much of the Haterade after that one.

Which brings me to my main point this week. I wasn't originally going to cover this topic--as frankly I don't think it's that big of a deal--but the listener backlash I've encountered after Art announced he and his wife were having a baby has driven me to express my opinion on this matter.

Art made the big announcement this past Saturday night on Coast to Coast AM. I wasn't going to listen to the episode, but in hindsight I'm glad that I did. Lately, I find myself catching just the first hour of Coast programs, listening for the latest happenings in the host's lives and the occasional bombshell announcement such as this. My initial reaction was one of joy for Art and Airyn. However, after having visited a few message boards and talking with other Coast fans, I found that people were quick to bust the Haterade out again.

As I said above, I consider Art Bell a friend of mine. Yeah, that sounds a bit cheesy, but (and I know I'm not alone in this thinking) I honestly do feel a connection to the man and empathize with his life changes as of late. Because of this, although I try not to, I take a lot of these character attacks on Art Bell more personally than I probably should. Case in point, the resurfacing of the hoaxed letter that was supposedly written by Art that speaks ill of Philippines and its people. That just really gets my goat. I understand that celebrities often become the targets of certain unstable fans, but who would have enough anger built up towards Art to hoax such a letter? I don't know, I guess I don't have the mindset required to be a serious hater.

Art Bell has managed to do something near impossible--rebound from the tragic death of a longtime mate only to remarry and start a new family...all while over the age of 50. How about we put the Haterade back on the shelf and just be happy for the guy? I propose a hate-free listening period for the next few weeks of Coast to Coast AM, and invite everyone to join me in it. Let us accept Art and the decisions he made and focus our criticism on more deserving parties...like charlatan remote viewers who failed to predict any recent big news events. You know who you are...