From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Ziegler (talk show host)
John Ziegler (talk show host)
John Ziegler Early life and education
Ziegler was born in a U.S. Army post in Heidelberg, Ger-
many,[7] and grew up as the eldest son of a financial man-
ager in the small village of Washington Crossing, Bucks
County, Pennsylvania.[8] He was a standout golfer in high
school, being named High School Golfer of the Year by
the Bucks County Courier Times.[8] In 1985, Ziegler grad-
uated from the Catholic Holy Ghost Preparatory School
located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.[9] He then attended
Georgetown University, graduating in 1989 with a degree
in Government and a minor in Theology and Philosophy.
While attending Georgetown, he lettered in golf for three
years.[8]
Concerning his family’s religious background, Ziegler
has stated that he "grew up in an incredibly, very strict
Roman Catholic family on both sides, my mother and
my father’s side. I’ve got numerous aunts who’ve been
John Ziegler at a demonstration in New York City, June 2009 in the convent. I went to Catholic high school, Catholic
Born March 28, 1967 (1967-03-28) college, as did almost all of my relatives, so, I mean, I’m
Heidelberg, West Germany very steeped in Catholicism".[10] Ziegler is, however, an
agnostic,[11] referring to himself as a "recovering
Nationality American
Catholic".[12]
Education BA
Occupation Broadcaster Career
Website After graduating from college, Ziegler became a sports-
caster, moving his way up to a full time position at WTOV
http://www.johnziegler.com/
in Ohio.[9] He left the position to write a book about
high school football in Steubenville, Ohio called Dynasty
John Ziegler (born March 28, 1967) is a conservative radio
of the Crossroads.[13] After the book, he took a position as a
talk show host turned documentary film writer/director.
sportscaster at WRAZ in Raleigh, North Carolina but was
Ziegler’s most prominent work in radio has been as
fired in 1995 after making what he describes as an "in-
the evening (7-10 PM) host of a radio talk show called The
credibly tame" joke about his belief that O.J. Simpson was
John Ziegler Show on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles, California
guilty.[8] Ziegler revealed on his November 21, 2006 KFI
from January 12, 2004 until November 13, 2007.[1] Talk-
broadcast that he once had a romantic relationship with
ers Magazine listed John Ziegler as number 54 on their
Kim Goldman, sister of murder victim Ron Goldman, who
"Heavy Hundred" list of the most important U.S. radio
has also been a frequent guest on the show commenting
talk show hosts in 2007.[2]
on topics related to O.J. Simpson.[14]
Working with film producer David Bossie of Citizens
He then began a career in talk radio, working at vari-
United, Ziegler was the co-producer, writer and director
ous stations before ending up at WWTN in Nashville, Ten-
of a documentary entitled Blocking The Path to 9/11,[3]
nessee, where he was later fired after having said the
which premiered in August 2008.[4][5] Following the
word nigger on the air, in, according to Ziegler, "a rather
November 4, 2008 U.S. presidential election, Ziegler an-
academic discussion about the way whites and blacks
nounced that he was working on a second documentary
view each other".[15] Ziegler has explained this event as
called Media Malpractice... How Obama Got Elected and Palin
him referencing what the boxer Mike Tyson said at a
Was Targeted.[6] Ziegler appeared on the "Today Show" on
press conference, where Tyson referred to himself us-
February 23, 2009 to debut the film.
ing that word.[16] He then began writing columns for The
Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News and co-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Ziegler (talk show host)
hosted a talk show on Comcast’s CN8 Television Network,
which later resulted in his winning a regional Emmy.[8]
The John Ziegler Show
In 2002, wanting to return to radio, Ziegler was hired
by Louisville, Kentucky radio station WHAS. Once again, KFI AM 640
his tenure did not last long, as during a Ask John Anything John Ziegler was the evening (7-10 PM) host of a radio
segment, he discussed Darcie Divita, a former Chicago talk show called The John Ziegler Show on KFI AM 640 in
Bulls cheerleader and WDRB morning television host Los Angeles, California from January 12, 2004 until
with whom Ziegler had a relationship until Divita broke November 13, 2007.[1]
up with him.[8] WHAS fired him on August 27, 2003, and The program was mostly news based political com-
Divita sued for $2,700,000, claiming libel and defamation mentary, but it also brought up other issues such as
of character. However, on May 24, 2005, Ziegler was events happening in Ziegler’s personal life.[28] The John
unanimously found not liable for damages as Divita was Ziegler Show was advertised as Getting it Right at Night[ci-
deemed a public figure by virtue of being a television per- tation needed] and a common catchphrase that Ziegler used
sonality. to describe the show was "three hours of rationality in a
Subsequent to his experiences of being fired and sued world of ever increasing insanity".[29]
for saying what he believes was the truth, he has au-
thored another book, The Death of Free Speech,[17] which Political commentary
claims that American discourse has suffered because of As the host of a mostly news based political commentary
political correctness, and that these taboos are not con- talk show, Ziegler described himself as "more libertarian
sistently enforced. than conservative, more conservative than liberal, and
In 2003, while still employed by WHAS, he joined more cynical and skeptical than anything else."[30] On
forces with Louisville Democrat and current 3rd district the issue of U.S. party politics, Ziegler has said that "the
Congressional Representative John Yarmuth to debate only dog I have in that hunt is that the more power
political issues on the weekly WAVE program Yarmuth Republicans have, the less power Democrats have; it’s the
& Ziegler, with Yarmuth taking the progressive side and lesser of two evils as far as I’m concerned, on most is-
Ziegler, the conservative side.[18] This gig lasted through sues".[31]
November of that year.[citation needed] In 2006, Ziegler sup-
ported the Yarmuth election campaign for Kentucky’s
Recurring show segments
3rd congressional district,[19] both financially and as a A regular feature of the show was Ask John Anything, a
political adviser.[citation needed] Yarmuth won the election monthly call-in Q&A about his opinions on anything.[28]
to Congress, defeating his incumbent Republican oppo- Ziegler has said the most frequent question he received
nent Anne Northup.[20] for the Ask John Anything segment were from people
On January 12, 2004, Ziegler began work at KFI as a who want to know why he and newscaster Leah Brandon
late evening host.[21] As both WHAS and KFI are owned were not dating each other.[citation needed] Other features
by Clear Channel, he was placed him in the unusual situ- include What Have We Learned This Week, a review of the
ation of having been fired and re-hired by the same com- guests and topics covered on the show in the previous
pany within a short time frame.[8] He moved to the 7-10 week[citation needed], Sounds of the Week, a Friday countdown
p.m. slot on February 21, 2005. In November 2007, he left of five sound bytes that aired during the week and were
KFI. either newsworthy or comical,[32] and the banter be-
Ziegler was the focus of David Foster Wallace’s cover tween Brandon and Ziegler, which was often based on
story in the April 2005 Atlantic Monthly, which explores news stories and usually had a lighter tone than the rest
how American talk radio works.[8] of the show.[32]
In addition to radio work, Ziegler has occasionally ap- On Friday April 13, 2007, the John Ziegler Show
peared on Scarborough Country[22] and has written op-eds changed its format to include the last hour of every show
in the Los Angeles Times.[23][24][25][26] being caller-dominated (9:00pm to 10:00pm). Prior to this
On November 26, 2006, Ziegler filled in for Matt change, the show accepted callers only when Ziegler
Drudge on his nationally syndicated Sunday night talk asked for an opinion on a given subject.[33]
show. Ziegler also filled in for Matt Drudge on April 8,
2007.[27][27]
"Stuck in Iraq" controversy
On February 2, 2009, Ziegler appeared on The View for In late 2006, John Ziegler drew nationwide attention for
his film "Media Malpractice." He also appeared numerous being the first[citation needed] to criticize John Kerry for the
times on the Today Show, MSNBC, CNN and Fox News. statement that "You know, education, if you make the
most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework,
and you make an effort to be smart, you, you can do well.
If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq."[34] Ziegler had heard
Kerry’s speech played on a local TV station.[35] He crit-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Ziegler (talk show host)
icized Kerry’s statement on the air on October 30 and
played the audio several times during that show. In con-
Documentaries
junction with the show of October 30, Ziegler had the Following Ziegler’s departure from his work as a radio
Kerry audio posted at the KFI website, and it was picked talk show host on KFI AM 640, Ziegler was involved in two
up by bloggers[36] and the Drudge Report[35] on its way to documentary film projects.
becoming worldwide news. Ziegler took credit for plac-
ing the story in a context that made it a major news sto- Blocking The Path to 9/11 documentary
ry.[34][35][36][37] In August, 2008, John Ziegler and producer David Bossie
of Citizens United premiered a documentary co-pro-
Celebrity confrontations and interviews duced, written and directed by Ziegler entitled Blocking
2005 was a year of confrontation for Ziegler, who devoted The Path to 9/11,[3][4][5] which revisits the political contro-
large portions of his show playing audio of his personal versy behind the ABC docudrama miniseries The Path to
confrontations with Jesse Jackson (whose bodyguard 9/11.[50] Through interviews with the Path to 9/11 film-
broke the KFI microphone),[38] O.J. Simpson,[39] Senator makers and others, news clips regarding the controversy,
Barbara Boxer[40][41][42] and Mark McGwire.[43] and footage from the miniseries itself, the documentary
Even though The John Ziegler Show was not heavily makes the claim that Disney/ABC ultimately shelved
guest oriented, some major political figures have ap- plans to release a DVD of the miniseries as a result of
peared on the show over the years, including California pressure from the political left, specifically the Clintons
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger[44] and 2008 Republi- themselves. As noted in the documentary, Disney/ABC
can Presidential primary candidate Ron Paul.[45] denies this and claims the move was merely a business
decision. However commission member Richard Ben-
Leaving KFI
Veniste said that the miniseries misrepresented facts
Ziegler was suspended for two days in 2005 following an presented in the 9/11 Commission report.[51] In addition
on-air confrontation with John Kobylt of KFI’s John and two FBI agents criticized the film’s accuracy. Thomas E.
Ken Show.[46] On November 13, 2007, the day after he Nicoletti had been hired by the filmmakers as a con-
announced his departure from KFI, Ziegler broadcast his sultant, but quit saying "There were so many inaccu-
last show.[47] He told a reporter that the decision was due racies...I’m well aware of what’s dramatic license and
to mental and physical exhaustion, and to his work on a what’s historical inaccuracy," Nicoletti said. "And this
documentary.[47] had a lot of historical inaccuracy.’"[52]
KGIL 1260 AM Media Malpractice documentary
In June 2009 Ziegler announced on his website that he Shortly after the November 4, 2008 U.S. presidential elec-
would begin work as a talk show host on Los Angeles tion, Ziegler announced that a documentary titled Media
news/talk radio station KGIL 1260 AM.[48] The show be- Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected was in production (the
gan airing Monday June 8, 2009 and ran from 11 AM until full title was later changed to Media Malpractice: How Oba-
1 PM. weekdays.[49] After leaving KFI in 2007, Ziegler has ma Got Elected And Palin Was Targeted). The film claims that
previously delivered on air commentary and was a fill in a liberal bias in the media was responsible for Barack
host on KGIL for a relatively short time. Obama being elected president. The film was originally
On August 14, 2009 Ziegler announced unexpectedly released live on the Today Show on February 23, 2009.
at the start of the show that it would be his last day on
KGIL due to matters out of his control.[citation needed] His
last show ended with a recorded speech of the late Pres- Reversal on Sarah Palin
ident Reagan denouncing socialized health care. About On June 12, 2011, Ziegler wrote an Op-Ed for The Daily
two weeks later after Ziegler’s announcement, KGIL Caller which announced his disenchantment with Palin
changed its format to become a music radio station in- and her activities since the 2008 election; in particular,
stead of broadcasting mainly talk radio. he eviscerated Palin for her "bunker mentality", and
On October 17, 2009 Ziegler interviewed David Keene claimed that "there is absolutely no way that she can
at WCPAC. Ziegler asked questions regarding Sarah Palin, be elected." However, Ziegler maintained that the main-
the FedEx pay-to-play scandal and Arlen Specter.[citation stream media was involved in "knee-capping" Palin in a
needed]
way that was irreparable.[53]
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Ziegler (talk show host)
Remarks at a 2007 campaign [15] http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0801/
ziegler.n.word.asp
event [16] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, November 9, 2007
[17] Cumberland House Publishing, 2005
On December 1, 2007, one day after a peacefully resolved
[18] Biography of Congressman John Yarmuth
hostage situation at a Hillary Clinton campaign office in
(Congressman Yarmuth’s official House of
New Hampshire, Ziegler made the following remarks
Representative site, retrieved June 18, 2007)
while introducing Fred Thompson at a campaign rally
[19] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, October 25, 2006 (8PM
in California: "In case you missed it, some nut job broke
hour)
in (Clinton’s campaign office) and took hostages and ap-
[20] CNN.com’s Elections 2006 (retrieved June 18, 2007)
parently threatened to blow himself up unless he got
[21] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, January 12, 2007 (7PM
a chance to speak to Hillary. Now, I found this rather
hour)
odd because I always feel like blowing myself up after I
[22] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, June 12, 2007 (8PM hour)
hear Hillary Clinton speak". ABC News says the audience
[23] Ziegler, John: "Bipartisan Benedict Arnold" Op-Ed
"laughed and applauded",[54] while FoxNews.com de-
in Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2007 (retrieved June
scribed the remark as "unfettered nastiness".[55]
26, 2007)
[24] Ziegler, John: "World Cup shows their true colors"
Personal life Op-Ed in Los Angeles Times, June 24, 2006 (retrieved
July 27, 2007)
He is married to Alison Kallik.[56]
[25] Ziegler, John: "How the liars won" Op-Ed in Los
Ziegler enjoys playing golf[57] and is the self-pro-
Angeles Times, November 10, 2005 (retrieved July 27,
claimed pastor of the First Church of Tiger Woods.[27][58]
2007)
He cites the Woods’ popularity as proof that not all white
[26] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, June 20, 2007 (7PM hour)
people are racist.[8] Ziegler has stated that Woods is prob-
[27] ^ The John Ziegler Show, KFI, April 6, 2007
ably the best argument for intelligent design.[citation need-
ed]
[28] ^ The John Ziegler Show, KFI, May 14, 2007
[29] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, June 27, 2007 (7PM hour)
[30] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, April 4, 2007
References [31] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, May 28, 2007 (7PM hour)
[32] ^ The John Ziegler Show, KFI, July 6, 2007 (9PM hour)
[1] ^ KFI AM 640 website (retrieved May 19, 2007)
[33] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, April 13, 2007
[2] TALKERS magazine article featuring the list of
[34] ^ The Big Story, Fox News, Nov, 2006 (on YouTube,
"Heavy Hundred 2007" (TALKERS magazine site
retrieved May 18, 2007)
retrieved April 15, 2007)
[35] ^ The John Ziegler Show, KFI, October 31, 2006
[3] ^ Blocking The Path To 9/11 - Credits, Blocking The
[36] ^ The John Ziegler Show, KFI, October 30, 2006
Path To 9/11 official website (accessed September
[37] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, Jan 1, 2007 (9PM hour)
21, 2008)
[38] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, May 2, 2007
[4] ^ Premiere of John Ziegler’s Film Announced!!,
[39] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, August 1, 2007
John Ziegler official website (accessed September
[40] John Ziegler’s editorial My trip to Barbara Boxer’s
21, 2008)
Alito press conference (January 25, 2006)
[5] ^ Premiere of JZ’s Film Ends With Standing
[41] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, June 21, 2007 (7PM hour)
Ovations, John Ziegler official website (accessed
[42] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, Jan 1, 2007 (7PM hour)
September 21, 2008)
[43] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, Jan 9, 2007 (7PM hour)
[6] "How Obama Got Elected".
[44] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, June 19, 2007 (8PM hour)
http://www.howobamagotelected.com/. Retrieved
[45] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, September 11, 2007 (7PM
2008-11-18.
and 8PM hours)
[7] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, September 5, 2007 (7PM
[46] LYCAN, GARY (September 17, 2006). "radio // No
hour)
start date yet for Dees". Orange County Register
[8] ^ Host The Atlantic, David Foster Wallace. April
(Santa Ana, Calif.): p. 1.
2005
[47] ^ LYCAN, GARY (November 18, 2007). "John Ziegler
[9] ^ John Ziegler’s biography at KFI AM 640 (retrieved
abruptly leaves KFI; On the radio". Orange County
December 1, 2006)
Register: p. 1.
[10] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, July 16, 2007 (7PM hour)
[48] John Ziegler website (accessed June 7, 2009)
[11] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, April 17, 2007 (7PM hour)
[49] John Ziegler, KGIL 1260 AM (accessed June 7, 2009)
[12] The John Ziegler Show KFI, May 16, 2007
[50] “Who Was Blocking ‘The Path to 9/11’?” by Jeffrey
[13] Closson Press, 1994
Ressner http://www.politico.com/news/stories/
[14] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, November 21, 2006
0808/12671.html
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Ziegler (talk show host)
[51] 9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and • Former First Church of Tiger Woods website
Biased - New York Times • Article on John Ziegler’s time at KFI from LA
[52] F.B.I. Agents Question Accuracy of 9/11 Series - Observed
New York Times • The Real KFI (John Ziegler’s former website detailing
[53] John Ziegler (6/12/2011). "The Sarah Palin I Know". his experience at KFI; archived at Internet Archive)
The Daily Caller. http://dailycaller.com/2011/06/ • WCPAC Part 1 of 3 John Ziegler interview with David
12/the-sarah-palin-i-know/. Keene
[54] "Radio Host Swipes at Clinton During Thompson • WCPAC Part 2 of 3 John Ziegler interview with David
Event". December 01, 2007. Keene
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/ • WCPAC Part 3 of 3 John Ziegler interview with David
radio-host-swip.html. Retrieved April 18, 2011. Keene
[55] "Hillary Clinton Draws Boos at Iowa Campaign • On The Record with Greta Van Susteren
Event, 1 Day After Hostage Situation". Fox News. • John Ziegler Arrested / USC Katie Couric Award Part
December 2, 2007. http://www.foxnews.com/ 1
story/0,2933,314502,00.html. • John Ziegler Arrested / USC Katie Couric Award Part
[56] http://registry.weddingchannel.com/coupledir/ 2
20107/K/O576321602/ Persondata
ALISON_KALLIK_AND_JOHN_ZIEGLER.htm
Name Ziegler, John
[57] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, May 4, 2007
[58] The John Ziegler Show, KFI, June 18, 2007 (9PM hour) Alternative names
Short description American radio talk host
External links Date of birth March 28, 1967
• John Ziegler’s official website Place of birth Heidelberg, West Germany
• Media Malpractice: How Obama Got Elected and Palin Was Date of death
Targeted website Place of death
• The Atlantic Monthly profile, April 2005
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Ziegler_(talk_show_host)&oldid=455992957"
Categories:
• American talk radio hosts
• American libertarians
• American agnostics
• Former Roman Catholics
• Military brats
• People from Heidelberg
• People from Louisville, Kentucky
• 1967 births
• Living people
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