I'm sorry, but I didn't like Franken's show

[Emboldened Chimp]

Please hear me out. As a Franken fan, I have to admit that I didn't like his show. It bored me, made me cringe and forced me to remove my headphones a number of times (I'm at work). Al is a great comedian and interviewee, but he doesn't make a good radio host. I know, I know, it's only the first show. Fair enough. However, there are some inherent things about Franken that will never improve: his voice is too shallow and his personality is not bombastic. Yes, talk radio needs to be informative--and Franken has scored on that front. But it also needs to be entertaining, and I for one did not find him to be all that.

Simply put, Franken does not have larger-than-life voice and personality, which you need in order to come across on radio. Randi has it; so does Malloy. Franken, sadly, does not.

Anxiously awaiting the inevitable flames... :scared:

[Snivi Yllom]

1. only bad part. Bob Kerrey should not have come on while he is involved

with 9/11 commission. I think all members should strive to avoid anything that can be called partisan.

[Joe the Revelator]

2. I know its cliche

but give it a few weeks and let him get his legs under him.

[noahmijo]

3. Hey you're entitled to your opinion

I agree he is not a radio host, BUT I still enjoyed his show because I accept him for what he is: a lecturer NOT a radio entertainer. He comes off to me like a special guest lecturer at school or something who brings up great intellectual points and makes you think.

Look forward to hearing the rest of the talent.

[Cocoa]

4. first show

of course it's going to suck, relatively speaking.

They have to find their stride, it could take a while. Franken probably won't even end up being the biggest hit, it could end up being someone we haven't even heard of yet.

[mot78]

8. Randi!

[King_Crimson]

33. No Mike Malloy...

he's been hung out to dry...:cry:

[Broadslidin]

43. Many Successful BBC Radio Programs Have Live Studio Audiences!!

Al Franken is a person who enjoys reading the immediately responses
of People.
He has to be Stimulated by the visual reactions of a Live Audience

Set up a bunch of chairs tonight, Air America,
and Al will Explode, on tomorrows program, guaranteed!!

[cheezus]

5. I liked it

And I'm sure it will get better. You ever see the pilot episode of your favorite tv show? Yep.

[rockymountaindem]

20. Good point.

The pilot of Seinfeld was an unmitigated, unfunny disaster.

[jadedcherub]

27. Cheezus? Cheezus Christ?

I liked it for what it was, but I think there is plenty of room for improvement. Randi is better, Schultz is crazier.

I dunno.

[tinrobot]

38. Randi's been at it for quite a while...

She knows the ropes. I like her show so far.

As for Franken, he needs a bit of polish, but he's a seasoned performer, he'll get there. Besides, there's a huge vacuum on the left side of the radio dial. He'll fill it quite nicely. I'm sure he'll get an audience and plenty of great guests.

[pleft]

6. I was

anticipating feeling the same way, but actually I think his delivery was off beat and pretty good. I'd like to see them tighten up their talking points, but overall I liked it a lot. The humor was great.

[Jane Austin]

23. Me too. I thought I would feel disappointed, but

I thought it was a good start.

The gags were great!

[eleny]

7. then don't listen

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. It was more low-key than I expected

But it wasn't all that bad. Some of it was great.:)

I'd love for AA to add folks like Mike Malloy, Peter Werbe, Thom Hartmann, Amy Goodman, and Jim Hightower to their line-up. That way we'd get a real variety of personalities.

Why is it so hard to get the best-of-the-best of liberal radio hosts all in one place??

[ContinentalOp]

44. I don't know,

re: "Why is it so hard to get the best-of-the-best of liberal radio hosts all in one place??"

Is that such a good idea? Maybe it's better to have a lot of voices spread out over different networks, states, websites, etc. Especially if Air America doesn't pan out. I think it would be a better idea to leave some of the established voices where they are and let AA be a venue for new voices. Let the liberal shows grow and flourish in whatever little niches they can find.

[rucky]

10. Remember Conan O'Brien's first season?

Give O'Franken a chance.

[K-W]

11. His first time for real in a new medium.

You need to give it some time. Look for improvements before you jump to judgement.

[messiah]

12. MIKE MALLOY!

The Franken show wan'nt all that bad but I still favor Mike in that slot against Rush.

[eleny]

21. mike is a night guy

he's said it over and over when he was on the air. discussing what happened during the day is his forte. didn't you just love his commentaries on the wh press briefings and such? i think franken is better for the daytime. he has that sound like i remember from early daytime radio talk shows. i'm an old fart and remember back to the 50s, new york radio.

but you *are right about bringing malloy into the lineup. i just think his callers were even more night people.

funny, though, about my habits now that mike is not on the air. i'm reading a couple of books a week. guess i like to read at night. go figure!

[Wickerman]

13. Question - how was co-host Katherine Lampfer?

I couldn't listen - no broadcast availiable and our IT folks go nuts with streaming audio. They send an email ratting you out to your bosses boss. That really seems to have an impact. :eyes:

Anyway, she did the local MPR radio show and I miss her, wonder how she did?

[Chitown_Dem]

19. I thought she was good

She kept things moving along. She seems to have quite a bit of radio experience (timing, etc).

[Wickerman]

26. thanks for the feedback

she's been doing hte MPR thing a long time and she was a fundraiser anchor, kept THAT moving, and was regularly a host to folks who were getting their own shows started - cooking shows, stuff like that.

Seems like a great fit there.

[Chitown_Dem]

29. you're welcome :)

yeah, she and Al seem to be a good team.

[truthseeker1]

36. I found her to be an annoying co-host.

The weak link in the Franken program.

[jadedcherub]

14. Thanks Mr. 1000+ posts.

tee hee.

[Emboldened Chimp]

17. LOL!

Touche!

[Robin Hood]

15. They need Bernie Ward.

For the life of me I don't know why they didn't tap Bernie for that slot, or any slot for that matter.

[eleny]

24. good idea!

even if it was a saturday night show. bernie seems happy where he is, though. but that would be great.

when do you think bernie should be on? same as he is now?

[Robin Hood]

28. Actually,

I would like to see him on during the afternoon drive time hours, 4-7. He would do the most good during that time. I have heard all the lib hosts out there, and love them all very much, but I think Bernie is the best out of all of them.

You can not win an argument against the man, you just can't. I have been listening to him for 15+ years, and I have never heard him be trumped.

On edit: He needs to get out of the Bay Area a little bit because he is preaching to the choir. He would do the most good on a national network.

[Chitown_Dem]

16. not going to flame you

you're entitled to your opinion.

I personally like Al Franken's mild mannered nature ~ he doesn't shout at you. Maybe it's a Midwestern thing. :)

[onecitizen]

18. I thought it was good..........

I anticipated not liking it but I thought Al was pretty darn good. The guests were good too. It went fast. I was afraid Al would try to be funny all the time on air. He wasn't though. He was appropriately funny.

[kispoko]

22. i loved it

and i was a little worried it might be a little bland, but those worries were quickly put to bed.

i love this shit. i'll be listening everyday..... that ann coulter bit was lofl funny :bounce:

[ACK]

25. Huh sorry I liked it.

No flames but I thought it was amazing to hear people talking about the Bin Laden family connection to Bush with Bob Kerry.

I liked the Ann Coulter bit.

He is doing talk radio not a comedy show.

Actually I think he should do a pure comedy show but ... I like the talk radio for what it was.


_

[Cush]

30. It needs tweaking

He did seem a little slow, but he'll learn

[sandnsea]

31. Wohooo! I shut off the TV!!

I could care less if it entertains me. It's a damn site better than having to listen to the right wing shills and jump and down when we get the slightest crumb of reality out of them. Franken will get the hang of it or we'll learn to listen to radio differently. It's all good.

[flpoljunkie]

42. Muted mine. Franken was fuckin' great--smart, funny, entertaining...

How sweet it is to have him on the air! Am so sick of the right-wing morons that cater to junior high level maturity. That is all we get here in central Florida.

And I thought Bebe Neuwirth was hilarious as Ann Coulter. Had appt. and had to leave during middle of Bob Kerrey interview. I hope Ann Coulter is a regular feature.

Franken is a genius, and I am thrilled to be able to listen to Air America online!

[Kool Kitty]

45. Hear!! Hear!!!

I thought the same thing.

[President Jesus]

32. it's a hundred times better than the randi rhodes show

now she is making me cringe.


I thought Al was pretty good. Let the pukes keep the market on shrill hypocritical idiots.

[demnan]

34. I thought he was great

I can't wait till I hear him tomorrow!

Sure he won't be funny constantly like his books, but you wouldn't expect that, would you?

On edit:

I really don't like the country bumpkin that came on after him (or was that just the local Oregon station I got the web stream from). We need someone good in drive time. How about Malloy? Where is he? Why isn't he on?

[tilsammans]

35. Give the guy a chance . . .

I thought Al did a pretty decent job first time out. And he's certainly savvy enough (and committed enough!) to listen to feedback and make the necessary tweaks.

[keithyboy]

37. Could we get "President Palmer" from 24-Hrs?

I love his voice.

[K8-EEE]

39. I Enjoyed It But See Room For Improvement...

Intend on listening every day, I'm sure they will get tighter production wise as time goes by.

I loved the interviews but it is awkward trying to insert the comedy in; I didn't care for the Ann Coulter running gag. I don't like running gags as a rule. It was funny the first time.

I like the idea of having her unbelievable stupid quotes come up from time to time....they should have the faux Ann Coulter screaming OUT OF CONTEXT which is always her excuse whenever asked to defend her rants.

I give it a B.

[Woodstock]

40. How do you know? It just started today

These things take time. Why the snap judgement? You think Randi was great on day one? Mike?

Pretty harsh.

[CatWoman]

41. another thread for the freaks to wave around

"See, we told you so"

give me a fucking break.

would you like for them to change their lineup to suit your tastes?

[dflprincess]

46. I loved it

the only downside was I have trouble picking up AM at the office (and they've blocked the network so we can't listen to anything on line) and it kept fading in and out.

Loved the Ann Coulter locked in the green room bit.