The 'Frasier' Of Clearwater

"If you want advice from a man, why ask a woman?  Ask a man; ask Dr. Paul," said Paul VeHorn.
     With a premise like that, how can he go wrong?
     VeHorn is host of the Clearwater-based radio talk show, "On Call with Dr. Paul," which airs on 1340 AM on Saturdays from 10-11 a.m.  As host of the live show, VeHorn serves as a sort of real-life Frasier Crane, answering questions about life and love for his fans.
     "There are a lot of people in the baby boomer generation who are divorced or presently single who have a real desire to have their lives work successfully.  They've been there, done that, in a lot of cases.  The market is deeply in need of a consultant for what they perceive to be interpersonal relationships," VeHorn said.
     The men and women who call in give VeHorn a specific incident and he responds with advice.  Simple.
     "I don't make moral or value judgements for anybody.  That, to me, is clearly wrong," he said.  He does delve a little into pop psychology, though.  For instance, VeHorn might tell a caller that a man who leaves a toilet seat up might be acting out "a control issue based on the macho thing men have."
     VeHorn's top advice to women?
     "Wherever it happened that your mom said you have to be coy and laid back, those days are over.  If you want a man in your life, those days are over," he said.
     Top advice to men?
     "Stop the macho. If you drop the act-- and that's what it is -- you'll be successful," he said.
     To both sexes, he is firm.  Be yourself.
      "If you try to change yourself, you may have just removed yourself from someone who might be right for you," VeHorn said.

For VeHorn, it's all in the details.  He says he admires the work of other "consultants," like John Gray ("Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus") or Dr. Ruth, but said their ideas tend to be more conceptual.
     VeHorn is also the author of the book "Dynamic Dating," based on the same premise as his radio show.  Currently, he is working on a new book, a collection of some of the best calls to his radio show.  He is also developing United Singles of America, an on-line organization for single people.
     "On Call with Dr. Paul" is not VeHorn's first brush with celebrity.  In  fact, he has a handful of television host gigs under his belt, and previous radio shows as well, including the nationally broadcast WINGS, which featured conversations with celebrity callers.
     VeHorn's resume also lists many television and radio commercials, including one for Advil and one for Spalding baseballs.  However, VeHorn is most proud of his membership in the Screen Actors Guild, which he earned as an extra on the set of Passenger 57.
     "Everyone who goes into any kind of movie set has one objective in mind, and that is to become a member of Screen Actors Guild," VeHorn said.
      VeHorn did make the movie.  Look for him in the carnival scene as the auctioneer wearing a checked shirt and a ten-gallon hat.  Because his part required him to speak, he was admitted in the Screen Actors Guild.
     "So, people I knew from the Tampa Bay area said, "how can you be so lucky?" VeHorn said. "I said, " I don't know.  That's just the way it works."