Fans of the radio host George Noory may have noticed some changes in recent years. Listeners of Coast to Coast AM, many of whom have tuned in faithfully for decades, are well aware that Noory is now well into his 70s.
He has officially hosted the show for 23 years after Art Bell’s retirement *one of them* .. though there were brief periods where other hosts– such as Art Bell as well—took the reins on weekends. Other familiar voices, like the late Ian Punnett and great George Knapp, who still occasionally fills in, have also contributed to the show over the years.
Other newer hosts include Richard Syrett, Rich Berra, Lisa Garr, and Connie Willis.
However, lately, Noory’s voice has noticeably aged. His style has also become slower–you can hear and feel it as you listen. The show is filled with mostly ads that take up the hour, and product placement voice spots between breaks that seemingly are taking over the show.
Niche fans and critics have long debated Noory’s role on Coast to Coast AM, with some arguing he never quite matched the presence or talent of Art Bell. Bell, after all, set a nearly impossible standard to follow. Despite this, Noory has shown remarkable staying power, defying predictions that he would be canceled or replaced by Premiere Radio Networks. Yet, as time passes, some fans have become less inclined to tune in nightly, and Noory’s shaky voice has become harder to ignore.
After listening to the show a show this week, there’s a distinct change in George Noory’s delivery. Words often blur together, sentences lack clarity, and his voice no longer carries the strength it once did. Noory’s broadcasting from St. Louis, rather than Los Angeles, due to the fires in California, but even this shift doesn’t fully explain the noticeable decline. It almost feels as though he’s phoning in the show—and forgetting he’s made the call.
It’s difficult to listen to, and despite past criticisms, it’s sad to hearing the declining vitality of a host who has been the cornerstone of the program for so long. This raises a significant question: What happens when Noory can no longer host the show?
Premiere Radio Networks has seemingly tested potential successors over the years, but none have truly resonated with audiences. At one point, deep-voiced John B. Wells gained traction in the early 2010s, but his tenure was short-lived for reasons never specified publicly by Coast.
As Coast to Coast AM faces this uncertain future, Premiere will soon need to decide how to preserve the show’s legacy.
Art Bell, who passed away in 2018, remains a legendary figure among fans, and his old broadcasts from the 1990s and early 2000s continue to attract a younger audience discovering his work for the first time. Yet, with the current state of the program and the inevitable decline of Noory’s tenure, Coast to Coast AM finds itself at a crossroads.
A decision will have to be made to ensure the dynasty continues, or the show may face an uncertain and diminished future.
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The Art Bell Archive