Franken re-ups with growing America

[Rose Siding]

In a move designed to help bury its once-shaky financial past, the progressive radio network Air America yesterday announced it has re-signed midday host Al Franken, elected a new chairman and secured $13 million in fresh financing.

Rob Glaser, the new chairman, says Air America is now on a firm financial footing and "we are projecting we will reach profitability sometime in 2005."

By re-signing Franken, who does the noon-3 p.m. daily shift with Katherine Lanpher, the network locks up its most visible personality. His deal is reportedly for two years.
...
While Air America hosts were disappointed - and occasionally outraged - at the re-election of President Bush, Glaser says the network achieved its larger goal of "helping to diversify and balance the national discourse. We didn't come here for one election cycle. This is long-term."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/260378p-222893c.html

[itzamirakul]

1. This is certainly good news and...

bad, at the same time. I am delighted that AAR will remain on the air but I will reserve my comments about the management's choice of hosts for a later time. I am listening right now and usually keep them on all day and often even until they go off in New York at midnight.

[Patiod]

2. I know this has been hashed & rehashed ad nauseum

I like Al Franken, enjoy his books and his interviews. Like that he's been able to lend his high profile to the network.

The "comedy" part of the show -- meh.

And I wish he'd avoid cringe-making dirty comments and insinuations - he just sounds like a dirty old man. I had never noticed that about him until I started listening regularly.

[Canuckistanian]

3. It's nothing compared to the juvenile Rush sex jokes

But you're right. There should be more intelligent discourse and avoidance of ad hominem attacks.

[iconoclastNYC]

4. Franken is not in his element

I was hoping he'd get better but i think he's getting worse, about 50% of his jokes fall flat, he jokes with guests who don't understand him and then you just feel bad for the guest. He goes on those annoying rants. His voice is annoying. I hate the fake reactions that Kathryn does : "AL!", and he gets all the best guest first which is pissing off the other talent.

I think AL would be better off if he was just a comedy writer.

Try to catch Morning Sedition 6am-9am. Mark and Mark have great chemistry and the comedy is much more fresh. Its the best show on Air America, with Mike Malloy as #2.

And why can't someone get Randy Rhodes to stop interrupting her guests. Even when she is on the same page with her guest she rudely interrupts them, anyone else get annoyed by this?

But warts and all, AAR is a huge step forward for the left-wing. It is the only unapologetic liberal voice in the media. It really gives me hope for the future.

[Chicago Democrat]

5. First of all, Al does irony...also very slightly dirty or off color jokes

have a huge tradition in Jewish humor.

Most important of all; Al gets the A list guests. He is getting much better at interviews. The Peter Bienart interview, for example, was extremely adversarial and done with lasar precision. Al actually engages in real debate with, heaven forbid, right wing people!

Randi is a horrible interviewer and no decent guest in their right mind would go on her show. I still enjoy her show, especially when she is joking. She is really funny sometimes. She has alot of issues to say the least. God the Patti Smith interview was probably the most embarrassing interview that ever occurred on live radio.

[Floogeldy]

6. Yes

Yea she talks about herself a lot with her guests and it seems she is also trying to "out-knowledge" them. Larry King, she ain't.

[AlCzervik]

13. Thank God she's Larry King cause he sucks

[QC]

7. I just wish he would stop giving over half his show to freepers.

They already have plenty of outlets where they can propagandize without Al giving them a platform.

[cliss]

21. I suppose it's the law of averages.

Or Freudian slips or something like that. I guess if you're on long enough, and talk long enough, your underlying gestalt will seep through. Mine probably would.

I like him too - to an extent. I find him a little slow (he speaks too slowly for me - I'm hyper & need to think fast). But he's methodical, is fair in his presentation (not nearly as much estrogen as Randi Rhodes!).

But - whatever is good for AAR is good in my opinion.

[dkofos]

8. Good for AL.

Good for AAR.

We need a station in the Dallas area.

[rodeodance]

9. "This is long-term."--that counts!!

[SHRED]

10. Franken

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...........The only entertaining part of his show is guests like David Brock, Paul Krugman, etc...

Give me Big Eddie any day of the week! He has these guests plus he is firey and fun to listen to.
http://wegoted.com/

[JuniorPlankton]

12. No offense, but

I think Ed is the worst part of AAR.
Though he is no longer a Republican, he sounds and behaves like even when advocates liberal causes.

[SHRED]

15. Well then

I guess this will be good news for you.
He isn't a part of AAR.

[JuniorPlankton]

18. Point taken!

My bad...

[MattNC]

16. well he's not a part of AAR n/t

[Mistra_Know_It_All]

11. Great!

[Mel]

14. Good News

I heard Randi Rhodes say yesterday that when she goes on vacation she's not going to run 'best of' she will have guest hosts. Some of the ones she mentioned where Thom Hartmann and Mike Malloy.

I happen to like Al he gets good guests.

Remember the Officer NG guy that asked Rummy the question about Armour?
Well Al's going to be keeping his eye on that Officer and that's a good thing! If Al didn't have this show he wouldn't have the power to put it in the spotlight of radio.
I think it would end up being 24/7 hate head radio against the guy that dared to ask Rummy that question.

I don't know what the rest of you think but I believe that NG guy put his ass on the line when he asked that question. He needs us all to have his back and it sure helps that Al talked about it on his show and made it known that he would be keeping up with him.

[MattNC]

19. great news

I hate when they do 'best of' shows. However, I don't see Hartmann doing it, since he goes for three hours right before Randi. I'd like to see Laura Flanders do it.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. I know some people have issues with AAR and some of its hosts, but

please, please, please ...... while we all want it to be the best it can be, let's not spend all our time whining about the hosts. This is a *start*. We have had nothing but right wing hate radio for YEARS ..... decades.

Can Al Franken be better? Probably.

Can Randi be better? Maybe, but I for one *get* her and I think she's the best they have. I love her rants. I love her anger. I love her passion. I love her command of actual facts and actual context.

I personally see AAR as an oasis in a dessert of vitriolic spew. Now, to be sure, they spew vitriol too, but it **our** vitriol and I love it!

I'd like to know if there's anything we can do to increase their market coverage. Contact local media? Is there anything we can do locally to get them on in our local markets?

I am located between Baltimore and DC and the only place I can get them is on line. This is the country's third largest media market and I can't get them on local broadcast? I see changing that sort of limitation as an important thing to do. I just don't know how.

But for now, AAR? ......... Spew away!

[MattNC]

20. they're coming to WWRC in January

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49905-2004Dec8.html

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Great News! And a Strong Signal

WRC is an old name in DC. They are also the local NBC TV affilliate (or maybe even company owned ... not sure).

[Maat]

23. This 46-year-old mom's favorites may surprise..

I love Unfiltered, Randi, and Mike Malloy. Obvious, blantant, in-your-face liberalism. I'm addicted to it.

And I'm not going to go sliming any particular host. I'm just glad to have them around. Glad to see Al re-up - he's highly visible, well-connected, and good for the network.

Big Eddie is not part of AA, but is put there on the # along with Al's show, which results in confusion. Big Eddie is nice but we disagree on reproductive rights issues. But I still like listening to him on and off.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

24. Yes, sometimes Al is boring and flat - but I love him

He's been down since the election - haven't we all? He's been tired and preparing for another USO tour - his fourth, I think.

A lot of times he makes me laugh out loud.

He gets the best big-name guests first because he provides a comfortable atmosphere for them. I really like the regulars like Paul Krugman, Joe Conason, Dave Sirota and Christie
Harvey.

He's informed - he really knows his shit and isn't as um, speculative as some other hosts.

But I hate his stupid dittohead friend and almost always turn the sound down during their little chats.

I agree with the poster who likes Morning Sedition, that's a great show. I would like Majority Report better if Janeane and Sam weren't so dysfunctional - it really gets in the way of hearing from the guests, and they have some of the best. I like Malloy a lot even though he can be so depressing that listening to him last thing at night leaves me feeling like slitting my wrists.

AAR has something for everyone, and I am so grateful it exists. Hey AAR - :yourock:

[SHRED]

25. Yes

Thank you AAR!

[quiet.american]

27. Well said n/t

[xxqqqzme]

26. great - now

maybe they will B back on in LA. Tuning 2 San Diego station thru the static is annoying but I'm desperate 'n can't sit @ a computer all day!