| Mr. Morality
Radio personality Dennis Prager believes it's our duty to
one another and to God to be happy. And he's written a book on the
subject.
By MARNELL JAMESON
Los Angeles Times Wednesday February 4, 1998
(Excerpts)
It's a picture-perfect Sunday in the backyard
of Dennis Prager's spacious West Valley home. Water cascades into
the pool. Kids jump on a trampoline and climb a knotted rope. Chickens
and horses issue the occasional cluck and whinny from pens up the
hill. The radio talk show host, essayist and theologian leans into
his patio chair, draws smoke from his pipe and says, "Isn't this
heaven?"
Indeed. Dennis Prager is happy and should be. At 49, he's just
written a book on the subject, "Happiness is a Serious Problem"
(HarperCollins). And based on his formula, he should be among the
happiest people alive. "That's a good chance," admits this large,
lumbering man, with a big deep voice to match his thinking.
A book on happiness seems paradoxical from this man, who from
12 to 3 p.m. each weekday on KABC-AM (790) radio discusses the often
depressing issues in the news. It also seems trite from a man whose
other books deal with Judaism and world problems. But Prager argues,
"Happiness is of first-rank importance. We owe it to those around
us to be happy. It's a moral obligation, so society will be less
cruel. We also need to be happy for religious reasons. Unhappy people
are an insult to God."
Prager is an unlikely talk show host, whose serious message and
demeanor defy the hip and obstreperous hosts that dominate the airwaves.
His appeal, says KABC Program Director David Cook, lies in his offering
"A perspective that is always unique and thought provoking."
Or, for some, just plain provoking.
"Dennis has a calcified view of the universe based on sitcoms
from the 50's of the way it's supposed to be, and he seems very
befuddled by why it's not that way," says radio host Robin Abcarian,
whose columns in The Times used to serve as fodder for his shows."
As wrongheaded as I think he is much of the time, what I like about
him is his thoughtfulness. He's very sincere, and he's respectful
of people."
***
Pitted against the equally opinionated Dr. Laura Schelessinger
on KFI-AM (640), Prager reaches 320,000 individual listeners a week
to Schlessinger's 560,000, according to Arbitron ratings. "Though
both discuss morals and ethics, they serve different audiences,
says KABC's Cook. Schlessinger's mandate is to discuss individuals'
problems, Prager's to discuss topics in the news.
"My first purpose is to elevate my audience; the station's primary
interest is ratings. Sometimes those interests are identical, sometimes
not," he concedes.
Prager was one of few media personalities who did not discuss
the O.J. Simpson trial. He did discuss the verdict, however, because
"the decision was of supreme importance to the country." He also
refused to discuss actor Eddie Murphy's encounter with a transvestite
prostitute "because it was of singular unimportance and violated
my religious law against gossip."
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