‘‘My shows were guest-driven — we’d have 12, 14 guests some nights,’’ he recalls. ‘‘I didn’t want phone talk. I’d rather provide good guests and good conversation for listeners to enjoy.’’
Talk radio today is more caller-driven. Coppock doesn’t consider it easy listening.
‘‘If you’re disenfranchised, hate your job, mad at the world, getting divorced, come fly with us — we’ll tap into your inner hatred,’’ he says. ‘‘I get very uncomfortable hearing a radio host beat the hell out of a caller just because he disagrees or expresses a different viewpoint.’’
Perhaps it’s the resentment of an exile, or an old-timer, but Coppock believes talk radio — all radio — was better in his day.
‘‘There isn’t much I hear that I find engaging, intriguing or thoughtful,’’ he says. ‘‘Why is Dan Bernstein so hateful? In his heart of hearts, I think he wants to be Jay Mariotti. Dan McNeil should be flying solo — Matt Spiegel doesn’t bring much to their show. Carmen De Falco is miscast. He should be a TV anchor. If I were Channel 5, I’d hire him for 6 and 10 o’clock right now. Marc Silverman has potential — he’s more sensible than most of them. Laurence Holmes should be working in Evansville, Indiana.’’