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March 21, 2003/Adar2 17 5763, Vol. 55, No. 30
Radio show features political parodies
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Political parodies, impersonations and famous guests are aspects of a new live, local drive time radio show that may appeal to the Baby Boomer generation.
The Rick Bloom Show, airing on NBC 1190 AM from 4-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, focuses on a variety of topics, including sports, music, politics and current events. Bloom's favorite aspect of the show, however, is political parodies.
"I've made about 26 parodies that have aired," says Bloom. "I did one about North Korea to the tune of 'Come to Papa' by Bob Seger. The headline is 'They've Got Two Nukes and 1.2 Million Troops.' "
Bloom also does impersonations of personalities from the Baby Boomer generation, including Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger. In addition, all of Bloom's commercials are done to the tune of Eminem songs.
"I'm really into Eminem," admits Bloom. "I just make up words."
Bloom, a former practicing attorney, has dabbled in real estate, served as a travel agent and was an assistant college basketball coach under Dick Vitale at the University of Detroit.
"I'm an attorney and I know a lot about politics," says Bloom. "I'm not a great musician, but I have a lot of enthusiasm. I'm actually singing parodies on the air and people aren't breaking their radios yet."
The show, which began airing in February, is Bloom's first attempt at radio.
"It was a dream to entertain people," he says. "I've always wanted to and I can't believe that I'm able to do it."
Bloom describes his show as light, liberal and listener-oriented.
"It's a fun show, unlike anything else in the Valley," he says. "I don't mind people being conservative, but I don't like the lecturing. You don't want to be talked down to like you're stupid. I let the listeners talk and show off their knowledge."
The show also features news, entertainment, sports, weather and foreign affairs anchors, a traffic roadster, a legal correspondent, a deli owner, a booking director, a restaurant reviewer, an "old-time" radio host and '60s, '70s and '80s flashback liaisons. Regular guests include Bill Goodykoontz, television critic for the Arizona Republic, and sportswriters Ed Price of the East Valley Tribune and Pedro Gomez of the Arizona Republic.
Recent famous guests on the show include basketball coach Dick Vitale, former NBA player Bob Lanier and comedienne Rita Rudner, says Bloom.
Currently, Bloom does all the editing, writing, producing, booking and advertising for the show.
"I work 16 hours a day," he says. "It's very hard work, but I love it. I've never been happier in all my life."
Bloom is also the owner of Health Exchange of Arizona, a temporary nursing registry for private home care. The business, located at 12th Street and Missouri Avenue in Phoenix, serves Maricopa County.
"I have someone come in to run it," says Bloom. "It allows me to free up my time to do things I like to do, like be on the radio."
Bloom, who relocated to the Valley in 1996 from Detroit, attended law school at Detroit College of Law and practiced in Detroit for 10 years.
"I came here on a golf trip," recalls Bloom. "I fell in love with the place and I had to move here."
Bloom and his wife Robin have two daughters, Jennifer, 21, and Courtney, 17. The family was previously affiliated with Temple Chai.
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