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Letters in the Editor''s Mailbag.

Article Excerpt
Byline: The Register-Guard

Hendrie makes listeners think

So, Bob Welch is offended again. What a surprise.

I've been hyping the insight and hilarity of Phil Hendrie to friends and family for months, and thanks to one knee-jerk column written by Welch (Register-Guard, Aug. 14), Hendrie's "paltry" Arbitron numbers will no-doubt soar. Hendrie liked it so much, he even posted it on his Web site!

Hendrie's primary purpose, I'm sure, is to make a buck. However, he does so by provoking discussion of issues and angles many people are extremely uncomfortable with.

Is he rude and mean-spirited? Sometimes. Is he funny? Depends on the listener - I think he's hilarious. Is he refreshingly unafraid of flashing his middle digit at political correctness to make a point and entertain thousands? Always.

The genius of Phil Hendrie is that if you aren't in on the joke, you are the punch line. Laugh a little. Think a little. It's really all right.

Most of Hendrie's show is political and social satire. It's a gag. It's entertainment sprinkled with social commentary. Hendrie is making fun of the people (and those like-minded) whom he parodies.

I was fooled and riled up the first time I heard it, but when I realized I had been had, I laughed at myself, shook it off and became a daily listener.

KUGN can be a little rough on the squeamish, so perhaps...