Interview with Buzz the Alien, Creator of the Unofficial Coast to Coast AM MySpace Site

I recently came across the fabulous unofficial Coast to Coast AM page on MySpace. I'm a fan of the notorious late night paranormal talk show, and frequent their official website to keep up on the world of the unexplained. I was immediately impressed with the aesthetics of the MySpace page-it really retains a true Coast to Coast feel-but also with the dynamics.

I wanted to promote a certain AC article, so I questioned the chatters about my photo of the 'Victim of the Beast 666' headstone that was featured on the Coast to Coast website several months ago, and the webmaster Jason Kelley, aka 'Buzz the Alien' who was in the chatroom, quickly posted my photo's URL for me. This guy's on top of it.

I recently had the opportunity to chat a bit with Jason about his brilliant, phantasmagoric, and ongoing venture at MySpace.

RICHELLE: Jason, there are already several unofficial but established Coast to Coast chat groups, and I believe even some MySpace pages (although they're kind of puny.) What inspired you to create your Coast to Coast AM MySpace page?

JASON: Well, I've been a loyal fan of Coast To Coast AM since November, 1997 when I got my first computer. I was already into the UFO/alien subject at that time and during a web search for a paranormal site I was building, I came across Art Bell's old website and that's when I learned about Coast To Coast AM.

Since then I've watched the C2CAM web site change a few times and although it serves its purpose, it seems to lack considerably compared to the popularity of the show itself.
Eventually I heard of MySpace.com and its growing popularity so I made a profile for myself and I began to recognize the amazing potential MySpace.com has for reaching out to a massive amount of people.

When I saw that other radio shows had MySpace profiles and Coast To Coast AM didn't, I decided to put a profile together for the C2CAM fans on MySpace.com. The C2CAM site is open to anyone who wants to check it out. You don't even have to have a MySpace account to enjoy the site. It's for all fans of the show!

RICHELLE: That's so cool. I've been listening to the show since around the same time you have. I used to frequent a wacky remote viewing chat room, and everyone talked about Art Bell. Strangely, I can't remember what the early incarnations of the website looked like, although I do remember going there. I like the current site; I actually love the format, but I agree it does seem to be lacking 'something'--and honestly, until I found your MySpace site, I didn't know what it was. Want to guess what that something is? Here's a hint: your MySpace site is filled to the brim with it.

JASON: Are you referring to the interaction?

RICHELLE: Yes! The interactivity. That is what makes the MySpace site so perfect. I think it's a huge oversight on their part, not to have made their own site interactive, or, to have done what you've done at MySpace. So many of the listeners are online type people, I think. The topics are so compelling and just beg to be chatted about and discussed, and even the show itself relies a lot on listener experiences.

JASON: Yeah, I always felt I could make a Coast To Coast AM web site that would live up to the quality and integrity of the show and at the same time be fun and interactive for the fans.

RICHELLE: I know there are several big Coast to Coast chat communities, but the ones I've been to don't seem to carry the whole show holistically, like your MySpace site does. It really seems an extension of the show. They ought to hire you--really. Have you considered that?

JASON: I have. In fact, the other day I sent my resume into one of the Coast to Coast AM producers! Of course it would be an honor and a privilege to be the webmaster of the #1 late night radio show in North America!

RICHELLE: Well, I hope they consider that application seriously, because being able to take part in the topics, and see everything recapped the way you've devised it is really attractive. I love it. What kind of response have you received from readers/listeners, and the Coast to Coast show/hosts?

JASON: Many C2CAM fans who have visited the site have sent messages and/or left comments on the site expressing how much they like the site.

George Noory mentioned the C2CAM MySpace ON AIR once I had it up and running. I have that segment of the show on the site under the Popular Audio Files section. That was pretty cool. Now, George will occasionally acknowledge the site during his Friday night 'shout outs' to all the C2CAM chat rooms. Thanks for your support, George!

Ian Punnett has also mentioned the C2CAM MySpace during his Coast to Coast Live show which is on early Saturday evenings. Thanks Ian!

RICHELLE: My personal favorite features there are the chat box, and the videos and postings in your blog section. For Coast to Coast AM and paranormal fans who have yet to visit the MySpace site, can you describe some of the features you've created there?

JASON: Oh,wow! There are tons of things going on over at the C2CAM MySpace. First off, like you mentioned, there's the blog section which is kept updated with videos related to science and the paranormal. Sometimes I'll even throw in some fun stuff like movie trailers and animations.

There's the chat room where C2CAM fans get together during the show every night and discuss show topics. You can customize your chat name and avatar to fit your persona and there's also a cool sound FX feature that everyone likes to play around with. It's always fun meeting new people that listen to the show. Coast To Coast AM fans are the best!

Also on the site are links to radio stations that offer FREE streaming audio of the show over the net! That way fans can listen to the show with internet clarity and not have to deal with the hassle of radio static that sometimes interferes with AM reception. (Note: It's still a good idea to keep your radio on during the show so whatever station you're listening to registers a listener.)

One of my favorite features is the C2CAM bumper music jukebox. We have 75 of everyone's favorite C2CAM bumper music songs. The jukebox has a 'continuous play' feature so you can listen to all the songs, one after another, while you browse the internet in another window or do house cleaning or whatever.
Just below the bumper music jukebox I've listed many of the popular Coast To Coast AM audio clips like the infamous Sounds From Hell recording, Art Bell's interview with Hopi Elders, calls from a fan favorite, J.C., and many more classic C2CAM moments.

Another feature is the Creepy Campfire Stories messenger where people can call in and leave a three-minute-or-under creepy story for other site visitors to listen to. That's always fun on those dark and stormy nights!

And of course I utilize all the MySpace.com features available, like the calendar that is updated regularly with upcoming guests and events, the comments section where fans can leave comments for all to read. Some visitors even use that part as a message board for communicating with each other. Our MySpace.com 'contact box' even changes to a different image on every visit to keep the site fresh looking.

That's just a little taste of what the C2CAM MySpace offers the fans. If you look around the page you'll find plenty of other things to keep you interested and you might even come across a few hidden surprises too!

RICHELLE: Well, that sounds provocative! It's obvious you have planned out and executed it well. What has been the biggest surprise in this venture so far?

JASON: Mainly the response I've received from all the fans. It's a good feeling when someone appreciates the hard work that you've put into something and actually takes the time to send a message or leave a comment expressing how much they enjoy the site.

My little dream was to build a C2CAM site that the fans would love to visit and that they can have fun with... and when I read the comments left by fans of the show, it's a pleasant surprise.