Mac Watson

Mac Watson was the afternoon talk show host at WRVA in Richmond, Virginia.

Career

He graduated from Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

In 2001, Watson was a morning radio talk show host and program director at KWTX-AM in Waco, Texas.

He often fills in for nationally-syndicated talk show host Glenn Beck, most recently on August 08, 2007.

On September 14th, 2007, Mac announced that he would leave Richmond, Va and WRVA to take a similar position at KTAR in Phoenix, AZ.

Mac started on KTAR-FM on September 17, 2007 as an afternoon drive host.

Mac Watson Radio Show

The Mac Watson show is mainly a politically based talk show that airs on AM 1140 WRVA weekdays at 3:00pm and runs until 6:00pm. The show is produced by Michael Clifford, who Mac often refers to as a wimp because of his taste in music. While Michael Clifford favors more new wave bands such as the White Stripes and Morrisey, Mac seems to prefer 80's hard rock and metal.

Mac seems to have a conservative leaning, but makes no bones about the repetitive incompetence in the decisions of the Republican party. Mac is tough on illegal immigration and the War on Terror, and is very vocal on these issues. Recently, his main talking points include the Dog Fighting charges brought against Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and the recent Abusive Driver fees brought on by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.

The Mac Watson Show opens in the 3 o'clock hour with some sort of social or political commentary. Mac will spend this time monologuing, taking calls and reading e-mails.

During the 4 o'clock hour, they typically play "Know your Pop Culture for Prizes," which is a game where contestants call into the show and are asked 3 questions pertaining to recent events in pop culture. If the caller can correctly answer 2 of the 3 questions, the caller will win any variety of prizes that range from concert tickets to DVD's. Mac and Clifford use a soundboard with a variety of sounds that make frequent appearances throughout the game, and are used in a comedic way to make fun of the game and its contestants. Know your Pop Culture for Prizes has many repetitive aspects to it. When Mac answers a caller, he will ask where the caller is calling from. Typically, the caller will answer with the name of an area in central Virginia. Mac will then coax the caller into mentioning that they are calling from Virginia, to which a series of BElls, whistles and applause will play and Mac will make a short joke about the area the caller is calling from (Ex: In a sarcastic tone, "YES! Midlothian, Va.! Know it well! I hear you have a lovely mall!). While the contestant is answering questions, Michael Clifford will play random sounds to interject a humorous filler to avoid silence while the caller thinks about his/her answer. When the prize in question has a low value, once a show a caller can use the "SUPER secret password." When Mac asks where the caller is calling from, if the caller replies "Italy," he or she will automatically win the prize. This was originally spun from a sound clip where President George W. Bush humorously pronounced the country "It-ly."

The 5 o'clock hour is usually another monologuing hour. On Fridays, Mac will start the 5 o'clock hour "Kicking off your Weekend," in which he will open with a factory whistle followed by "Working for the Weekend" by Loverboy. This is meant to parody the typical FM pop station in the 80s who would do something similar when the song and video was popular. Michael Clifford is in charge of the factory whistle, and will often intentionally play a clown whistle just to annoy Mac.

Sometimes Mac and Clifford will use the 5 o'clock hour to just "shoot the breeze." Usually they will talk about music, current events or just make fun of each other. In one show, a member of the crew left his cell phone in the studio, to which Mac and Clifford devoted the entire 5 o'clock hour trying to figure out what sound the ring tone was supposed to represent.

In 2005, Mac Watson was voted Richmond's most annoying radio talk-show host by Richmond Magazine. Mac often boasts at this title, as the show's old opener used to mention, "Voted Richmond's most annoying radio talk show host by Richmond Magazine!" Mac often bosts at his invitations to guest host the Glenn Beck radio program. Mac has been known to brag, "I guest hosted for the third most-listened-to radio talk show!"

Mac's show is preceded by Rush Limbaugh at noon and Sean Hannity at 6:00pm. Watson regularly previews a day's show during the WRIC-TV noon newscast.

Mac signed off of WRVA 1140 AM with his last broadcast on Friday 9/14/07, to take an afternoon show in Phoenix, AZ at KTAR 92.3FMKTAR Story Welcoming Mac. You can follow his blog there 1 as well.

Frequent Callers and Mailers

-Hill

-Tim in Richmond