Tavis Smiley just did his first talk with average viewers, talking about..

[AP]

...the news.

He had a white guy from Orange County and black woman from Chicago. Both of theme were interested in Dean and Clark. Both said they were doing pretty well financially. The man said the only pinch he was feeling was the cut backs in the schools. But he was aware that life was pretty shitty for lots of Americans. The woman said that she can see lots of problems in Chicago, but that she's doing pretty well. The guy said that he didn't need any tax breaks.

When they said goodbye, the woman asked if she could shout out to her mother and brother in Buffalo, NY. They guy said that he wanted to say hello to Roberto and Mikhail in DC, because nobody in Orange Cty is listening to Tavis Smiley besides him. Ouch.

[Stuckinthebush]

1. Smiley always seems a little greasy to me

I have a hard time placing him anywhere other than "TV Evangelist".

[AP]

2. Whazza? Smiley is the best, most liberal voice on NPR!

Do you listen to the show?

Incidentally, during a fund drive, I heard my local NPR people saying things like, 'maybe you aren't used to his voice and his style of speaking'. I couldn't believe I was hearing such borderline racist crap.

[salin]

3. kidding right?

televangelist? where is he evangelizing?

[NYYFan]

4. Hard-Hitting Commentator

Asks the tough questions- not afraid to get the answers or tell it like it is.

Perhaps you have him confused w/ someone else :shrug:

FYI: Tavis Smiley show on NPR. T, Th commentary on Tom Joyner Morning Show and in January, The Tavis Smiley Show on PBS- lead in to Charlie Rose.

[Iris]

7. Was he a tv evangalist?

I only remember him from BET. Although, I think I heard him say in an interview that his parents were pretty into their church when he was growing up.

I think it's great that he's on public radio now.

[AP]

8. No. He has been in radio and TV since college.

He's like David Letterman, but into politics rather than commedy. (They're both from Indiana.)

[NJCher]

5. I listen to Tavis all the time

He comes on at 8 in the evening on our local NPR (AM). I can't imagine where you would get "greasy."

What I really like about the show is that if you want to become familiar with the leading experts in various fields who happen to be African American, this is where you'll find them. TS has introduced me to personalities I'd never have heard on commercial media.

He's had Condoleeza on a few times and treated her with altogether too much respect, IMO. But then I'd like to see Russert bitchslap Cheney, so....


Cher

[AP]

6. Don't confuse Condoleeza and Connie Rice.

Connie Rice is a regular commentator. She's Condoleeza's cousing, and she's a flaming liberal civil rights lawyer who criticizes the Bush administration incessantly.

She also revealed that, when Bush criticized UofM's admissions policies, Condoleeza Rice issued that press release from her own office because she was horrified by Bush's position.