TV a passing fad, radio digs far deeper: Phillip Adams

Phillip Adams celebrates 20 years as the host of Late Night Live later this week, on 28th January. In that 20 years his innate empathy and engagement, his unending curiosity and his wicked sense of humour, have earned him a loyal following. The program remains one of the ABC’s most listened to and downloaded programs.  Adams speaks to radioinfo to explain the secret of his longevity and also gives us a taste of that wicked sense of humour in this Q & A.

 

Twenty years. Did you ever think you would last so long on one ABC program?

The program’s longevity isn’t suprising.. it’s my own that’s remarkable. I attribute my long life at the ABC to the food in the cafeteria.

 

What is the secret to LNL’s success and longevity?

I bribe the gladdies and the poddies. Small amounts of money in brown envelopes. Plus the fact that it isn’t a bad program …all those bright and frequently eccentric producers! They’re even more entertaining than the guests..? ?What impact do you think the program has had? Why?? ?Well, the ABC is so bloody right wing!!!  There was a need for a leftish program – for counterpoint. As john Howard put it so cogently when attacking the ABC ‘where’s the left wing Michael Duffy?”? ? 


Can you give some examples of notable people you have interviewed and the impact of the interviews.

Seeing that I’ve interviewed everyone on the planet who’s been even vaugely influential in poltics, religion, science, the arts, entertainment and taxidermy  (leaving Studs Terkel in our dust – and earning the right for a Guiness Book of Records entry) it’d be easier to list those I’ve NOT interviewed. ….and there’s only one of those…John Howard.

For some reason he always declined. I’ve had everyone froms Hans Kung to Henry Kissinger. We’ve had dozens of Nobel laureates and leaders or ex-leaders of this or that nation –  from Lech Walsensa to Gorby…but Mr.H wouldn’t give me the time of day. Or night, given when the program goes to air. It must have been something I said.

I’d find it hard to narrow the ones I liked most down to a favourite thousand…but some of the best have been un-heard of, total surprises… Gore Vidal is fun but he’s a professional celebrity. I always liked talking to Harold Bloom – but like Gore he was a circus act. ditto for Christopher Hitchens. Then along comes someone totally obscure who fascinates with an area of study, exploration or originality.

 

Who is your most favourite ever interview guest? Why?

Most of my favourites succumb to the LNL curse and promplty die, like the Athur’s. Arthur Miller, Arthur Schlesinger and Arthur C.Clarke. I wouldn’t want to add to the death toll.

It’d be easier to name my least-favourite guests – including neo-con Charles Krauthammer and the Director of the great Louvre…. he came on to talk about the Louvre’s loan exhibition of Egyptian antiquities… only to reveal he knew less than nothing about it… talk about hard work!

Almost as bad as a very senior Buddhist priest whom, we were told, was fluent in English and couldn’t speak a word of it.? ?We’ve had some very distinguished regulars of whom my favourite is Bruce Shapiro… we usually discuss the area we’re going to talk about… which I then ignore, and head off in an entirely different direction, if only to confuse him, and he never fails!

 

Last week you came out publicly in support of WikiLeaks and revealed you are on the Advisory Board. Have you had any flack from the ABC, ASIO, or anyone else about that?

I’ve been a supporter of Julian Assange for years. Agreed to join his board when he was setting Wilkleaks up… and have no doubt that ASIO, the CIA and Gerard Henderson are tapping into my emails.
But the ABC? They’ve behaved impeccably. Over 20 years, despite the troubles I’ve caused them, even when the board was heavily burdened with my political enemies, there’s been negligible interference.? ?
 

Why do you consider WikiLeaks to be important?

Because it embarrasses the powerful.

Now that you have declared a link to Assange, how will you handle ?coverage of WikiLeaks on LNL?

Same as always. I’ve always declared my views up front – expressing them in newspaper columns, speeches and books rather than on-air, and we’ll discuss matters arising in a civilised manner, as i do with people with whom I strongly disagree.  LNL believes in the complexity of issues and ideas – and with around 70% of the audience having had tertiary education I’m sure they’ll think things out for themselves.? ?Are you planning to interview Assange any time soon?? ?Had him a few months back.

 

How does ABC Management handle your outspokenness on the many issues you have championed over the years?

As I said earlier, with remarkable tolerance… and by politely answering many letters of complaint. I think the ABC actually believes in free speech.

 

Before joining the ABC for such a long stint, you were at 2UE. How is commercial talk radio different from ABC Radio? Which is better?

The central difference:  Commercial talk-back broadcasters and stations veiw the audience with cynicism verging on contempt. The ABC, and Radio National in particular, respects the listeners. LNL certainly does.
Where commercial radio reduces issues to slogans and pours petrol on issues (revelling in bigotry) RN tries to contextualise, to admit to complexity. We encourage thought, not simulated outrage.

 

Any other thoughts on your milestone 20 years with LNL, or about radio in general?

TV is a passing fad. As I said on its 50th. anniversary  “we haven’t had 50 years of TV – we’ve had one year 50 times.’ Whereas good old fashioned wireless, at least at RN, keeps on keeping on – and keeps on casting a wider net and digging far, far deeper, if you’ll forgive the mixed metaphors.

As to the 20th anniversary? Ask me again on the 40th….