10 Questions with ... Ellis Henican

NAME:Ellis Henican TITLE:Talk Host STATION:WORRadio and the WOR Radio Network MARKET:New York and national COMPANY:Buckley Broadcasting BORN:Newport News, VA RAISED:New Orleans

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Reporter and columnist, Newsday. Political analyst, Fox News Channel. Weekend talk host, Bloomberg Radio and Talk Radio Network. Co-host, "Henican & White," afternoon-drive show on WOR.

1. You were already a successful newspaper writer and columnist before you went into radio (at Bloomberg). How did your radio work come about - why radio?

I'd write a newspaper column. I'd get a call from a producer. I'd be a guest on someone's show. I'd enjoy it WAY too much. Eventually, I started asking: How do I make radio a real part of my life? Al Mayers at Bloomberg, Mark Masters at TRN and Bob Bruno at WOR all took reckless chances on me. That's how it happened. Really.

2. About what are you most passionate these days?

Encouraging people to think for themselves, even if they totally disagree with me.

3. Discourse in the media (and blogs, and real life) between the left and right has seemingly gotten more and more contentious in recent years- as a commentator of long standing in the "other camp" on Fox News Channel, do you anticipate things getting better or worse in the future- can the country ever come closer together and stay united, or are we looking at red vs. blue from here on out?

Far too much is made of America's left-right divide. That's so 20th century! Most smart people I know are conservative about some thing, liberal about others and downright radical from time to time. What? I'm supposed to let some party or politician do my thinking for me? No thanks. That's something I'd really rather handle all by myself.

4. You've done radio solo in the past at Bloomberg and TRN, but now you have a partner- what's the best thing about working with Lynne?

She's smart. She's great looking. She knows how to share. Sometimes, she laughs at my jokes.

5. One of the more unusual items in your background is that you did the voice of coleslaw-loving crew member Derek "Stormy" Waters on Cartoon Network's "Sealab 2021"- how did that come about? And while we're on the subject, what else makes you laugh?

No type-casting jokes, please. The "Sealab" writers, Matt Thompson and Adam Reed, needed a voice for Stormy, who is a good-looking, well-bred nitwit. Erik Estrada had already signed on to play another character. Adam said to me: "You have great pipes, man!" Apparently, people in the cartoon business still use goofy expressions like that. I love "Sealab's" twisted sensibility. But coming from a big Catholic family in New Orleans, what really makes me laugh are long, exaggerated stories about colorful people getting themselves into ridiculous situations. That's what the Henican-family dinner table was all about. That's still what makes me laugh the hardest today.

6. Are you pessimistic or optimistic about the future of newspapers? Where will newspapers be in twenty years- will the print edition survive, will everything be primarily online, will they be multimedia instead of mostly the written word and still photos?

I don't have a clue where the technology is headed. All I can say is this: More than ever, people need to know about the world around them. And everyone loves a great story well told. This is lucky for me since talking and writing are the only two marketable skills I have. They go out of style, I'm selling shoes for a living.

7. Who are your heroes?

A bunch of old or dead newspaper men, all brilliant: Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, Murray Kempton, Don Lee Keith. Oh, and Paul Harvey. The man can say in 20 words what most writers can't in 200 or 2,000.

8. Of what are you most proud?

My optimism. My resilience. My marriage.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without____________.

...iced coffee.

10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?

Best: The world's a whole lot smaller than you ever imagined. Treat the people well. You'll meet 'em all again.

Worst: This is serious business! Quit have all that fun!