Air America's death wish redux

[ariellyn]

Sorry to be a whiner but I've tried adapting to AAR's new program lineup which I called a deathwish before it ever happened.

Now, after a week and a half I am sad to say. I was right.

How can AAR remove Sam Seder, Randy Rhodes AND Mike Malloy from their evening lineup and not think it would reduce their audience--especially when the replacements are Politicially Direct and Eco Talk. There are a bunch of short, boring hard to follow shows in the place of what used to be dynamic entertaining shows.

I know it's my opinion alone that I'm voicing here but really...what were they thinking?

The only answer I can come up with is that they want to make those other naysayers right--the ones who say that liberal radio has no audience. They seem to be actively working to get rid of their own audience. Go figure.

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

1. On the other hand

I'm glad Sam Seder now has a morning slot, since that is more of a "star" slot than evening. Seder really ROCKS and like to see him reach a larger audience. He has the opportunity to do that with a morning slot.

[ariellyn]

2. Yes I am glad, too but I can't listen while I work. Not the best

time slot for him IMHO.

[Mist]

4. I really enjoy Sam in the evenings, but if this slot is better for him

in terms of a career move, I'll adapt!

[Nutmegger]

37. I agree

I can't listen to Sam at all in the morning but if this better, then so be it. I'm just glad he's still with AAR!

[calmblueocean]

29. It's funny...

I'm totally with you that Sam Seder really deserves the best slot they have, but he's got an 'evening' kind of show, IMO. His anger and energy seem to resonate more with the evening than the morning. I loved Seder where he was. If it were up to me, I'd bring Maron back for mornings, and keep Sam on in the evenings. If only!

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Sounds like thay are getting programming advice from the Pacifica

network.

[Moochy]

10. What is your local pacifica affiliate?

Just curious what you don't like about their programming? cheers!

[The_Casual_Observer]

30. KPFK They are getting stronger on politics & news lately, but their

informative & cultural programming is really weak right now.

[Moochy]

33. sorry to hear that

I've been listening more to Pacifica of late on KPFA, since the NPR dreck sends my blood pressure through the roof with the Bush cheerleading.

Here's hoping your L.A.B. in L.A. gets off their duffs, not that the local advisory board has done crap up here in Berkeley. :( Darn internecine fighting!

I heard a really good afternoon political talk show on KPFK on politics a year ago.

[The_Casual_Observer]

34. I have been a listener to KPFK since the 60's, so my expectations

are kind of high. The management problems have really taken their toll. The potential for greatness is there if they had the right people and attitude.

[Moochy]

36. Pacifica Listener since 89

And I marched many times during the crisis a few years back, so I can completeley understand your high expectations. When the shows are good its like nothing else, beats listening to snake oil salesmen on AAR. :)

:yoiks: Honestly, I can't stand commercial radio, the AAR internet feed was the only way I could tolerate it, without the ads.

[Vexatious Ape]

5. a few months ago we lost AAR

here in Atlanta. I was beyond pissed off to say the least. Then, when I found out they canned Mike Malloy, I stopped giving a damn about them. Is Randy Rhodes not on as well now, or did they change her time slot?

[freethought]

15. Randy starts at the same time, she's just one hour shorter. n/t

[ariellyn]

17. They took an hour off the end of Randi's show to start Rachel earlier

then after Rachel, it's all downhill.

[Vexatious Ape]

32. I really like Rachel Maddow

I almost lost it way back when they replaced her morning show with Springer

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. Hasn't affected me much.....

I only ever got to listen during the day anyway. Having Sam on in the mornings is GREAT! I now get to listen to Rachel Maddow, who I never got a chance to listen to before, and I'm impressed. So, I get to listen from 9a - 8p. I know Malloy fans are upset, and may even be silently wishing for AAR's demise, but I don't have a problem with the new lineup.

[Mr_Spock]

9. Funny how vengeful the Malloy fans have been

I am pretty upset that they would want to ruin AAR & see it's demise for all of us, just to prove a point.

It's one of the ugliest things I've ever seen here.

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. Well, you know it kinda reminds me of the

repub operative who was posting on the liberal blogs from his repub boss's office, trying to sabotage the campaign of his opponent? Sound familiar?

[Mr_Spock]

25. And say anything and you get a smart alec response & sarcasm

I would expect a more intelligent dialog from DUers :shrug:

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. Ditto.....

I sometimes can't believe what I'm hearing here lately. I sometimes think we are our own worst enemies.

[still_one]

24. very similar to Malloy's personality, which is quite destructive

[Mr_Spock]

7. lol - looks like some people will contribute to their demise.

Seemingly because of one change they don't agree with - which many of us saw as inevitable.

The old "cut off your nose to spite your face" trick - makes me laugh - but not in a haha funny way :(

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. I'm with you Mr. Spock.....

Why are we constantly forming circular firing squads? Mike Malloy was a gifted & passionate radio host, but why would we try to sabotage one of the few outlets we have as liberals? I don't presume to tell people how to feel, but there is still lots of good talent left at AAR, and I for one, hope they survive.

[ariellyn]

13. I think you are missing the point

I don't hope that they disappear, to the contrary I want them to thrive. I just think they are making decisions that will result in their own demise. If AAR goes down, it won't be because I voiced my displeasure with the poor choices they continue to make.

[Moochy]

20. Silly you are just being vengeful (sarcasm)

Now listen to the crappy Malloy replacement shows and buy some books from Bruce Berman and some hypnosis tapes while you are at it! :P

"Remember I got here, and you can too!!"

[ariellyn]

21. LOL nt

[TreasonousBastard]

26. "I will never listen again..."

because they canned Malloy is not exactly what we need.

Me, I never thought Malloy was the one to being over the fencesitters-- too loud and preaching too much to the choir. And isn't a large point of AAR to bring our views to the larger population?

Or is it just to insult them and piss them off while giving some of us the giggles?

[Mr_Spock]

31. I think you get the point here

I agree with the thinking in your post.

[itsrobert]

8. Not to mention Rachel Maddow is very boring

I listen to talk radio for TALK. Her rundown of the news and her pal's sports report are BORING!!!!!!

Olberman, she's not.

Bring back Mike Malloy!

My radio is turned off after Randi's show.

How many times do they have to move Rachel Maddow, before they realize dead air would be more entertaining?

[ariellyn]

12. Rachel Maddow is one of the best on AAR--a saving grace.

However she cuts into Randy's time slot now. There are lot more chopped up programs on AAR.

[BuyingThyme]

19. She is great. Smart as hell, and does her homework on time.

[Maat]

28. I love listening to DR. Maddow.

She's very well-informed.

I still support AAR too, because it is important to support Bobby Kennedy and Mike Papantonio, Rev. Gaddy (our believer-liberal and former head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State), Sam, and Randi. And, I get 3 hours of Thom Hartmann on Sundays on AAR.

Moreover, I have met Al Franken, and believe him to be a very well-meaning populist, who can follow in the steps of Wellstone. So, I support him and listen to him too.

That having been said, I will ALSO support whichever org. starts carrying Mike.

No matter what my fired-up side is thinking, I'm going to have to support all of the progressive hosts; there aren't that many of them.

[Moochy]

16. Laura Flanders was great on KALW local SF station

I really liked the format of "Your Call" show that used to play in the SF Bay area. It's still on, but I miss her mid-atlantic accent. :blush:

I must admit that hearing her do segways on AAR and having to wait across commercial breaks was tough for me, the non-commercial radio purist that I am. :)

on edit: I agree Maddow is a bit dull, but it could just be the early time she was on.

[BuyingThyme]

14. You are right.

They need to bring in some real management right away. The things they have done are just silly. All of the shows are great, but so is chocolate.

[still_one]

22. Seder has moved to the day time, and Rhodes is on at the same time

just 3 hours, not four, which is standard for talk radio

I personally don't care for Malloy, all he does is rant and rave, and to me that is boring. Peter Werbe in my view is a much better radio host.

Seder, Frankin, Rhodes, and Werbe open a dialog for thinking, and don't slam callers who don't agree with them, but instead mostly use reason and facts to support their position

[Downtown Hound]

23. I could care less about AAR now since Malloy is gone

It isn't even that I want to see them fail, they just don't hold my interest anymore. Their shows suck, except for Randi who's show is on at the wrong time for me. Their interface also sucks. It used to be that I could listen and jump around on the internet at the same time. Now it plays hell with my web browser and I constantly get these blank pop-up pages whenever I try.

As far as I'm concerned, AAR blew it. Bad management and bad execution. There's no reason it should have turned out this way with all the talent they had and the good will of so many. But they did. Flame all you want, I'm done with them.

[DemFromMem]

35. Have to disagree

I'm listening to AAR a lot more this week than before. I discovered the Young Turks on Sirius when renting a car and wished they were on AAR. And I HATED Jerry Springer's snoozefest. I have loyally listened to Rachel since they started moving her around different time slots and am glad they've given her a good time in the early evening. I'm not thrilled tht a show with such a narrow topic as Ecotalk is given a prime evening slot, but that's about the only change that is bothering me.

[KharmaTrain]

38. Doesn't Matter Here In Chicago

AAR signs off at local sunset. Right now that means about 7pm, in the middle of Randi's show. I used to be able to hear it out of Cincinatti, but Cheap Channel now makes money on it with macho sports dudes and dollar-a-hollar preachers. If I listen to radio at night, it's to catch Bernie & Ray on KGO in San Francisco.

Honestly, AAR offers little for me to tune into these days. I enjoy Rachael and Al Franken, but that's about it. I prefer radio that informs...where many times AAR sounds like the mirror image of right wing hate radio...and it's wearing thin.

[johnnydrama]

39. good and bad

I really like The Young Turks, so they are great for me in the early morning.

But Seder isn't even on on KTLK and that's a real bummer.

I think Seder is better for evenings, because the day's news he's talking about is fresh, and I liked
hearing his take on it, rather then hearing him in the morning talking about day's old news.

[dharmabum65]

40. AAR DESTROYED THEMSELVES

I agree that Mike Malloy is the best talk show host that thier is,and AAR completely screwed up when they fired him and disregarded the wishes of thier listeners,predicated upon that I am done with them!

[ObaMania]

41. They've pretty much lost me as a listener.

The Young Turks in the morning are unlistenable IMO, and frankly, I miss Springer. That at least was entertaining.

Seder just doesn't do it for me.