America's liberals to 'bash Bush' with talk-radio network

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=500708

After a decade of battering from the right on the airwaves, America's liberals will finally have their first ever talk radio network later this month, featuring an array of celebrated and less celebrated Bush-bashers, spearheaded by the comedian Al Franken.

Air America Radio, owned by Progress Media, will launch on 31 March on stations covering four of the biggest US media markets, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. By the end of the year the project's backers plan to be on the air in a dozen markets across the country, offering an ideological alternative to conservatives like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage, who have long had the field to themselves.

Media specialists also point out that the stations where the network will launch have much lower ratings than those of the established right-wing stars - meaning that Air America will have to spend heavily on promotional advertising. But Air America, which says it has $20m of financial backing, insists it is in for the long haul. It promises "compelling and entertaining programming" - in other words that it will take on the conservatives at their own game, avoiding the liberal tendency to nuance and political correctness, qualities which may be worthy but tend not to make riveting radio.

The clearest pointer to the intended future direction is Mr Franken himself, comedian, author and perennial baiter of the right. Last year, he was briefly taken to court by Fox News, as Rupert Murdoch's TV network tried to gain an injunction to block distribution of Mr Franken's best-selling book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.

[Born Free]

1. Howard Stern?

One of the articles I read gave me the impression Howard Stern would like to be part of Air America, although there was nothing said about it. I hope they do well, wished they had a station near the Pennsylvania capital.

[Ladyhawk]

2. Can you donate?

I'm incredibly poor right now, but I think this might be worthy of a donation. I think MoveOn.org and Air America will have my financial support. If Kerry keeps on top and bashes Bush when he deserves it (constantly, in other words), I might donate to him, too.

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. Kerry's got a blog now, he "responds" to Junior constantly

.
.
.

That's the DBUNKER image in my sig line . .

[joeunderdog]

17. Soros should put his money here. The soft money issue is making

contibutions to MOveOn a bit of a question mark right now, but this radio resource looks like money well spent. Or what about Al Gore's Liberal TV? Where is that at?

[belle]

21. I agree; it'd be much better spent. The Repubs couldn't touch him then.

[mumon]

3. I hope they get Lynn Samuels & Mike Feder

Mike Feder is the most talented person I've ever heard on the radio.

He's not strident at all, he basically uses his radio program as self-psychoanalysis.

And he reveals his fear and loathing and neurosis at the neo-fascism that's conservatism.

I hope they go national really, really soon!

[belle]

22. Mike Feder? Sounds interesting. I've never heard of him.

Where do you listen to him now? He sounds like my kind of talker.

[eablair3]

4. Mike Malloy should be a given on that network. Peter Werbe, too

I'd be real excited if they would add Mike Malloy and Peter Werbe, too. As it is, I'm just sort of ho hum on it.

I don't think Franken will be that good in this format, although I like him. I thought he wasn't that good in that week-long guest appearance on Crossfire. Garofalo wasn't that great in it either, although I like her, too, a lot. They should really get people who are good at the talk radio format, rather than getting "names". So many of these kinds just fall flat on their face in this talk format, and then everyone says "look, see, there is no market for liberals in radio." They point to Mario Cuomo on this point. I don't think Franken or Garofalo will cut it. They need to go with the professional experienced people in liberal talk radio.

I think Randi Rhodes will be good for them, and I look forward to hearing her back on the air.

Is that Ed Schultz going to be on this network? I thought he was. I've heard the guy, and he sucks.

So, as far as I know it only has one real good talent (Rhodes) at this point. She's good, but I don't think she can carry the whole network. They need a good lineup, and there would be nobody out there any better to add than Mike Malloy and Peter Werbe.

Wouldn't it be great to have Mike Malloy on a national network heard all over? Now, that would be exciting.

[Speed8098]

6. Did you read Al's book?

I did and loved it. If that can transcend to the radio, it should be a great show.

Al Franken tells it like it is. No bullshit,just truth, with some humor attached.

Go Al.

[eablair3]

7. yes, .. his book is good

I agree his book is good, and I enjoy and really like seeing his commentary on air. But, based on what I saw of him on Crossfire, he ought to stick to commentary and writing books.

Just because someone can write a good and funny book doesn't mean that they can also do talk radio.

[dbt]

8. In every big city in Amerika, there's a struggling radio station

Or two or three. I have spent 35 years in radio--and I may know a thing or two by now. If I owned one of these stations, I would hook up with Air America in a heartbeat. I would do this even if I were a Republican, even if I were currently running a music format, and here's why:

It would instantly make my station stand out from all the other News/Talk facilities in my market. With the mere flick of a switch, I would, as they are so fond of saying, cut through the clutter. I would have product differentiation.

For openers, my station would be a NOVELTY, a gimmick if you prefer to think of it that way. And what's the first thing ANY product has to have in the uber-crowded Marketplace? A gimmick. An angle. Something that makes it different from the pack. Something that causes Water Cooler Talk.

I'd barely even have to advertise my new format, thanks to the word-of-mouth such an audacious move would generate. Conservative white males would be so quick to bash my station (to everyone within earshot) that people would tune in just to see what all the laughing was about. And about the first time those new listeners heard Al Franken or Chuck D, I'd have myself some new customers. Some repeat bidness!

The beauty of the format will be the way it comes out and says what a large segment of the American public has been thinking for the past four years. And simply because it's on the air, it will give legitimacy and validity to a very alienated customer base.

I have a couple of targets in mind in my own town. You can BET that I will be in contact with some station owners, urging them to get in on the ground floor of what will be at the very least a Silver Mine. You can do something similar where you live, too.

Air America gives me hope for broadcasting. I have had NONE for twenty years or more!!!

:bounce:
dbt

And could I sell enough advertising to make it work? Oh, hell yes!

[eablair3]

10. i agree ... you are right on target with your comments

I'd just like to see a few more real experienced and good radio talk show hosts in there, as well, such as Mike Malloy, Peter Werbe etc

The names such as Franken, Garofalo and Kennedy jr will get them some publicity, but not too soon after, they are going to have produce a good quality show. Nothing worse than having some freeper call in and turn the tables on them regularly. That doens't happen with the experienced talk radio hosts like Rhodes, Malloy and Werbe.

[Ms. Clio]

23. what about the radio market in Dallas?

Any ideas on a station to target for this switch? Or how do I find out this info. on my own?

Thanks!

[calimary]

29. Agreed, wholeheartedly! I've spent 25 years in radio, myself, so

you're definitely the senior partner here. But truly, it just leaves me flabbergasted that NO ONE, til now, has even considered something that used to be the air everyone breathed in my business: COUNTERPROGRAMMING. It was essential, right down to knowing when to still be playing music while the other guy went to a spot break, and breaking the piggy bank for contests when the other guy could only give out concert tickets. COUNTERPROGRAMMING. So WHY do we have wall-to-wall-to-wall-to-wall conservatives?

I mean, even in a market like L.A., where I've lived and worked all my life, which has a liberal mayor and mostly liberal congressional reps and assembly people and does its share to keep Feinstein and Boxer in the Senate - all there is available to listeners is a conservative, and then another conservative and then another conservative and then, hey, how 'bout a conservative? I do NOT get it, but I do know that KABC talk radio and KFI both do NOT exist for me, as long as they run nonstop conservatives. I refuse to listen to them. So that leaves me, and a huge untapped audience out there, yearning for something progressive to listen to, instead of the knuckle-draggers, and we're being completely ignored. And I do not get it. In one of the most liberal cities in the country. I do not get it. I'd work for Air America in a heartbeat, if an opportunity were to present itself. I'm certainly going to be listening, and letting them know I'm listening.

[eablair3]

9. who is Chuck D?

from the article:

Among the new network's other big names are Janeane Garofalo, the actress, who will co-host the main evening show, and Chuck D, a hip-hop artist, who will co-anchor a morning programme. The weekend hosts include Robert F Kennedy Jr, environmentalist and nephew of former President John F Kennedy.

_____

who is Chuck D?

[dbt]

11. From Public Enemy, I believe,

Or possibly from NWA. Either way, he's a long-time subversive!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[dolo amber]

27. WHO IS CHUCK D?!

:wow:

What are you, 12? :evilgrin: ;)

(He was the founder and major creative voice of Public Enemy.)

[truthisfreedom]

12. the truth is, you don't have to bash bush to love america. not any more.

we have a new hero. KERRY. you can simply love America and vote for Kerry. and put your money where your mouth is, even 10 bucks will do. 8^)

[eablair3]

14. Kerry doesn't excite me

the biggest thing he has going for him is that he is "anybody but Bush".

Hopefully, Bush will be defeated and sent packing. Then, they ought to try the asshole for all the lies and perhaps criminal things he and his adminstration have been involved in. But, they'll probably let him off the hook.

[eablair3]

13. the Air America lineup

http://centralairmedia.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=28


I'm not familiar with these hosts:

Co-Host: Marc Maron

Co-host: Sue Ellicott

Co-host: Mark Riley


Co-host: Lizz Winstead

Co-host: Chuck D

Host: Marty Kaplan



anyone?

[Tuttle]

15. Lizz Winstead

creator of the Daily Show.

Tut-tut

[eablair3]

16. i'll probably check them out, but no Thom Hartmann?

I do enjoy Thom Hartmann's show, which is really informative and makes one think about things. He's not as flamboyant as some others like Malloy, but I wish they would put him on, too.

But, fortunately, Hartmann is still currently available over the internet every weekeday 12-3 pm est, or 9am-Noon pst.

I will probably still listen to Hartmann. I guess he will be opposite Franken?

[teryang]

18. Air America Radio?

I think that is a poor choice of words.

[dbt]

20. I'll take it!

All I need is ONE STATION!

[eablair3]

24. agreed

couldn't they have thought up a better name than that?

[intheozone]

19. Jon Stewart should do a news program

on Air America. Granted, a lot of what makes Jon so funny is in the visual of him, but he has such a great understated way of bashing this administration and making fun of it. I think he would be a good addition to the line-up.
I hope this radio takes hold, I would contribute to it to keep it going. This is so badly needeed to try to balance out the right.

[SoCalDem]

25. Gee.. I don't remember ClearChannel being touted as a

"Bash Clinton" network.. Hmmm I musta missed that..

Why is Bush immune from criticism?? Why SHOULD he be?? He has cost our nation a lot more giref than Clinton or his father ever could have...or did..

I cannot see why any group would even expect NOT to be challenged.. It's a no brainer..

[Catshrink]

26. Let's not forget Guy James! He is DU radio...

too bad he's just one once a week.

His program needs support. I hope there's a place for him in the Air America lineup.

[Fridays Child]

28. Somebody please tell me it'll be streamed live on the Internet.

Pretty please!!!

[ryharrin]

30. Your wish is my command.

" Live streaming of Air America Radio shows, along with show archives, will be available on www.airamericaradio.com. Air America Radio is in negotiations with satellite television and satellite radio providers. These national services will allow potential listeners to tune in anywhere in the country. The details of these partnerships will be unveiled soon. "

http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/todays_show.html