Grade the first O'Franken factor show, objectivly

[Bombtrack]

Poll question: Grade the first O'Franken factor show, objectivly

Sorry there aren't enough spaces for "pluses". But this should do.

I will listen every time I can, but there were times I was disspointed.

Obviously it's awesome to hear this historic moment. I just thought that some things were unfunny, like Coulter. The Chuck D chat was the best interview I think. Kerrey was kind of boring. In terms of entertainment, I'm used to Stern, and it wasn't close to as entertaining to me as Stern is 75 percent of the time. I also listen to 96.9 fm in Boston during the summer. It was definetely better than the lib they have on that station(Jim Braude, who's only given an hour to co-host with a centrist co-host).

Speaking above my partisanship, as I am not a party-minded person, I'd say Frankens radio talent/flow-level is above or not less than Imus, Mike Barnicle, Laura Ingrahm, O'Reilly(who are all on 96.9 Boston) but below Randi Rhodes and Jay Severin(96.9 flagship fascist). Just my take. I don't want to just have him preach to the converted, I want him to change peoples minds. (Right now, he can affect 2 swingstates minimally, Oregon, and a sliver of Wisconsin outside Chicago).

[jadedcherub]

1. He can affect a hell of a lot more swing states than that, as long as his

show keeps streaming online, he can affect anyone with a computer.

[Columbia]

24. Problem is

The people who bother to stream it are probably not the undecided voters. To truly affect change, he's going to have to pull in the all the middle of the road folks who don't even usually listen to talk radio.

[trotsky]

2. If there were plusses (pluses?) I'd go with a B+.

Rough around the edges, but the core is SOLID. Franken made me laugh throughout the program, and with just a little more time under his belt his show will be awesome.

[demnan]

3. I gave him an A-

which is pretty good considering this was his first show. I really wasn't thrilled with the Ann Coulter imitation either.

Meat - meat - meat! I like lots of substance and I think he delivered on that. Even though the Kerrey interview was a bit slow for talk radio.

[mzmolly]

19. I gave him the same, and also didn't care for the Coulter impressions

They just weren't funny.

Sounded too much like her frankly ;)

[swag]

4. It was okay

The Ann Coulter stuff was stupid and unfunny. The Bob Kerrey segment was interesting. Michael Moore I could really give a shit about (sorry).

I think the show will only improve and sharpen (and the rest of this week with HRClinton, Paul Krugman, and Richard Clarke will be great).

[Shoedogg]

5. A- Good first effort

It was much better than 'Cats.'
I'm going to listen again and again.

[Az_lefty]

6. I liked the show

especially the "mAnn in the Green Room" bit. They need to punch it up a little and fix their website. It's been overloaded all day, can't register and their stream keeps dropping. However, it is their first day and all things considered they did pretty well. Hope they improve over time.

[Cush]

7. B- / C+

Seemed a little slow at times

[rucky]

11. yeah, too much dead air

and Al is WAY to quiet- especially compared to his domineering sidekick, whatshername. Dunno if it was a good or bad idea to get a professional broadcaster like her in the booth with franken. she seemed to have saved his ass many times, but it changes the tone of the show. We don't need a bombastic voice to listen, but at the same time Al was way too timid. There was just too much contrast & little chemistry between the two.

[mouse7]

18. Al Franken has had a deliberate delivery since Franken and Davis

Franken has been delivering his bits at the same deliberate pace for 30 years. Why do you think he is going to suddenly double his word rate and sound like a morning drive guy? He's not. That's not Franken's act.

[LTR]

8. I only heard a little bit in the car

On a Chicago station that breaks up terribly around here.

For a first-time effort, he was good. Usually many debut shows are not that great.

But considering it's show #1, I give it a very strong B.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

[xultar]

9. A- it was his first show so he did well, I loved the Ann Coulter thing...

They should put Hannity, O'Liely, each one of the RW attack dogs in the green room each day and lock the door.

[ronnykmarshall]

14. I hope it's a running gag.

Throw Rush in there too.

[gemlake]

25. It was hilarious

I'm surprised many here didn't find it funny. The only reason I didn't give the show an "A" is that the hosts need more time to gel.

[West Coast Democrat]

26. I loved the Ann Coulter thing too

It really sounded like her!!

[rucky]

10. It won't affect Oregon

We're a swing state because of strong partisanship split 50/50, not because of a mushy swing-vote that could go either way.

like you said - minimal, if any

Air America's biggest influence will be in the L.A. market, where ideology is limited to what's in fashion at the time.

[Tim4319]

12. Didn't hear it

I tried but, I figured the server was overloaded! Better luck tomorrow, I guess.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

13. B/B+

It was a good first effort. Once Air America gets their streaming problems squared away, and the talent settle into thir routine, it'll get alot better.

[sandnsea]

15. It was good

I gave it a B-, which is good to me. He needs to be a bit more energetic, but I think that'll come quickly as he understands how his voice projects over the radio. I think it'll also take some time for Dems to figure out they've got a forum and can say whatever they think. Kerrey should stay out of politicizing the commission, so I think he did fine. Although that Thompson Governor sure has no problem politicizing it.

[phaseolus]

16. Argh. Was drowned out by a Sheboygan ESPN station...

...in far-north Milwaukee suburb where I work. :mad:

[Freeforever]

17. Wanted: A More Knowledgeable Co-Host on Ann Coulter

A good first show, but Franken needs a sharper cohost than Katherine Lanpher. "Hey I got a quote for you. Coulter said McVeigh should have gone to the NY Times..." We're way ahead of you sister. What's next, Coulter's Islam insult?

[Catholic Sensation]

20. and how many other people do you think know the quote?

the show isn't made solely for members of DU

[SeveneightyWhoa]

21. Exactly. And..

..this type of stuff needs to be repeated, repeated, repeated.

[trotsky]

29. Bingo.

What else is right-wing radio but one vast echo chamber? The cons who turn into it get to hear Rush say the same things as Liddy say the same things as Hannity say the same things as the Savage Weiner, etc. If we're afraid of repeating ourselves there's a whole lot of people out here who will never hear it for the FIRST time.

[West Coast Democrat]

27. The woman considers herself a journalist

and they could go on all week pulling out inane Coulter quotes. Why not?

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

22. Pretty good, but

I'd like them to get it straight between what's comedy and what's serious. Al seemed to interrupt guests so he could say something funny, which is fine, but he should keep it short and pithy enough to keep the interviews on track. His guests are liberals: he needs to keep the spotlight on their messages and not worry about where he gets his laughs. I'm a longtime Franken fan and consider him a very smart and funny man, but interviewing is different from stand-up, so I look forward to him getting more interviewing experience under his belt.

His co-host doesn't do much for me. I missed the first hour so I don't know if they established who she is; I take it that she is a Minnesota radio veteran who is supposed to temper Al's "angry liberal" persona with a more moderate approach. She came off like a cautious schoolmarm or overprotective mother type, kind of a drag. Maybe the chemistry will grow.

I found the Coulter bit to be lame. Its heavy-handedness embarrassed me. I know they used a famous actress and nice sound effects and all, but what can I say. I have higher expectations for liberal comedy.

Al mentioned something about Kerry running a positive campaign and how they should be more positive on the show, and I agree. Overall the show struck me as a little arch - even the voiceover guy had that attitude. Savage the Republicans with the comedy bits and save the interviews for getting out the message, like the Daily Show does.

[Kholst]

23. liked it, gave it a B

but I thought it was a bit slow and rough, and I didn't like the Coulter bit, either.

[Buns_of_Fire]

28. I didn't hear it :-(

(No local station, and my poor pitiful PC can barely handle the Internet, much less streaming...)

But the consensus seems to be that it's OK, but could be better... and that's fine. Remember, it's the first day -- I'm sure they're already getting feedback. Things will be tweaked, re-tweaked, and re-re-tweaked as time goes on. From what I see here, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Be patient. (But, of course, not too patient! ;-)) These people know what they're doing. I'm willing to give them the time necessary to tune up the engine...