Air America will swing to the “Center’.

[blueinindiana]

Mike Malloy was the best thing on AAR but his straight talk was too much for them.
I feel Sam Seder will be gone too if he is not already.

AAR wants to get DLC types in so they can attract corporate advertisers.

AAR will go the way of Ed Shultz.

[mmonk]

1. Nah, not yet.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Under Mark Green?

Fat chance.

[WillyT]

7. Um... Take A look Here:

Air America Radio Appoints VP Of Programming

Air America Radio has announced its first new major hire since being purchased by the Green Family Media – David Bernstein will join the network as vice president of Programming.



Bernstein is a 32-year radio veteran; having held programming and news management positions at leading stations such as WOR, WBZ, WRKO, WHDH, WPRO, WDBO, WAAF and WTIC. He is currently the owner/president of Bernstein Talent, a consulting firm for radio talk show hosts. He will begin overseeing all Air America programming beginning March 19.

“David is just the Rx that the doctor ordered,” agreed Air America President Mark Green and COO Scott Elberg. “He has a successful track record of over two decades of building ratings and branding talk radio. Because his ability to work with high profile talent is unparalleled, David will be a vital part of Air America 2.0.”

"To quote Mark Green, I’m an Air American," said Bernstein. "So c’mon, let’s get going!”

Link: http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=137203&pt=todaysnews

:evilfrown:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

9. So?

They hired a radio pro. 1+1!=2 in this case, as this time.

They need a radio pro.

[WillyT]

13. Yeah... Pro Business

We'll see, but if the rumors of dropping Seder are true, they're gonna lose a whole lot of folks.

:shrug:

BREAKING: Sam Seder fired from Air America?

Sam Seder has apparently been fired by the new Green Family management of Air America.

We've heard from several readers now that former AAR talker Marc Maron complained Friday on-stage at the Punchline, an Atlanta comedy club that Seder was being fired and that he (Maron) was turning down an offer to replace him.

Seder won't comment; Maron isn't responding to e-mail.

The New York writer, comedian, and film maker with comedian/actor Janeane Garofalo were seminal fare at Air America with their Majority Report. Garofalo left the show amicably in 2006.


Rumors of big changes at Air America have been roiling for weeks since the March 6 sale of the company to the Green Family.

Link: http://blatherwatch.blogs.com/talk_radio/2007/03/breaking_sam_se.html#more

Apparently... Ed Schultz will rule radio-left.

:puke:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

14. It's a business!

They gotta make money. They almost went completely away because that was something they could not achieve.

On the other hand, Mark Green is as liberal as they come. Few, if any, have his liberal bona fides.

One blog on the other side of the country does not a firing make.

[NYCGirl]

15. Especially when one is quoting a comedian who was on stage at the time. NT

[WillyT]

16. True... But If Maron Was Pissed, And His Information Correct...

I think I'm gonna blow a fuse.

Maron and Sam are really tight. I'm sure that if this happened to Sam, Mark would be one of the first people to know.

But I'm hoping that this is all misunderstanding and conjecture.

:scared:

[NYCGirl]

17. It might even be a joke, since it was said on stage at a comedy club. NT

[WillyT]

21. I Truly Hope So, Seriously, But...

that particular comedian was Sam's mentor in comedy in San Francisco back in the day. He also had a wonderful show on AAR that the pro-business geniuses decided to cancel, and who, while still being owed money from AAR, appears on Sam's show every Friday, and filled in between the Franken\Hartmann switcheroo.

I'm just saying that the business boy geniuses at AAR, managed to fire Maron, Malloy, and possibly Seder. Three of their top guys IMHO. Each one was fired by a "new" program director (I believe), with Malloy being fired over a friggin cell phone on his way into work!!!

So hopefully I'll be forgiven if my heart went into my throat when I saw this tid-bit of gossip.

It is totally ringing true base on past experience.

:shrug:

:hi:

[NYCGirl]

22. I know who Marc Maron is, WillyT. I've been listening to AAR from the first day.

[WillyT]

26. Me Too, That's Why I Give This Rumor More Weight Than Usual

:shrug:

[Pirate Smile]

19. Here is a larger article - according to it, he isn't making changes right away.

"New PD sees Air America as just good radio

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By DAVID HINCKLEY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, March 19th 2007, 4:00 AM


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-snip-
That said, he acknowledges that being a liberal network is a crucial part of Air America's brand and value. "This is something that didn't exist before," he says. "That makes it very important in a society like ours, where every point of view needs to be heard.

"But I don't see our purpose as 'answering' conservative radio or Rush . There's no clear majority in this country today. We want to talk to everyone and help everyone make the right choice."

Bernstein says he looks forward to working with New York real estate magnate Stephen L. Green and his brother Mark, who bought the network out of bankruptcy this month. "They have a vision," says Bernstein. "Just as they know it needs to be a successful business to work, I think they wanted a radio guy in programming.

"They're committed. They certainly put their money where their mouths are."

As for the programming part, Bernstein says he'll first sit back and listen.

"I'm familiar with Air America the way I'm familiar with most other radio, because I listen," he says. "But as a product, it's too early to say if we're going in the right direction.

"I want to get feedback not only from people around here, but from programmers and listeners around the country, because the real question is what your listeners want and are you giving it to them.

"It may be that in the end, we're already giving people exactly what they want. That's what I'll be looking at." He notes Air America is still young, reaching its third anniversary on March 31. "Like anything in radio, it grows, changes and matures," he says. "It's much different than it was in May of '04, say. But one of the things about Air America is that it's a known brand. People have definite opinions on it, for and against."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/03/19/2007-03-19_new_pd_sees_air_america_as_just_good_rad.html

[Lex]

Link?

Or you were worrying this might happen? :huh:

[orleans]

3. NOOOOOOOOO!

(got a link?)

[rurallib]

4. What about Thom Hartmann??? He is just the best

And Randi??? And Rachel Maddow??? And Sam Seder??? holy cow haven't we learned yet that trying to be Repuke light don't work?

[Blue Belle]

23. With that line up of talent...AAR has gotten more left.

They've gotten rid of the DLC lapdog (i.e. Al Franken, Jerry Springer) and Ed Schultz isn't even part of Air America, his program is picked up by affiliate stations.

Randi and Thom have been in the talk radio business forever, have faithful listeners, and aren't going to change their progressive format for anyone.

[NYCGirl]

24. Al Franken, BTW, is not DLC. Jerry Springer probably isn't either. NT

[Blue Belle]

27. Perhaps you are right.. but respectfully, I disagree.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. No way

Randi will never be in the center.

[Rainscents]

6. Linky link, please?

I don't think so! Blowing hot air?

[clbuck]

8. There's an unsubstantiated rumor about Sam Seder being fired

Blatherwatch, a Seattle-based radio blog has the rumor posted http://blatherwatch.blogs.com/talk_radio/2007/03/breaking_sam_se.html#more">here.

[Rainscents]

12. I hope it's not true...

[NYCGirl]

10. Mark Green is a tough-ass Liberal. NT

[Rainscents]

11. Yes he is!

That's why, I hardly doubt, AAR will go to center.

[mucifer]

18. If Green is so moderate, why did he say on Laura Flander's show that

he appreciates that she interviews grass roots activists on her AAR show?! That was 2 days ago he said that. BTW he has written for "The Nation" magazine. I really don't think he's gonna want to hire ed shultz.

[NYCGirl]

20. A title of one of his books: "Selling Out: How Big Corporate Money Buys Elections,

Rams through Legislation, and Betrays Our Democracy"

Does that sound "centrist"? He was also one of Nader's Raiders in the 70s.

[peacetalksforall]

25. If there is a problem between Sam Seder and the new Air America,

it might not be about liberalism - it might be something else.

So, OK, does anyone know if Mark Green or his brother belong to the DLC? I hope not.

Making money for growth and security - good.
Working for DLC - bad .... really bad.

[NYCGirl]

28. Read this and then tell me if it sounds like a DLC person:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_J._Green

[peacetalksforall]

29. Why are people doubting him? When I hear Center - I think DLC.

To me, going to Center and staying around center means too far right too often.

We tried Center under President Clinton and I now find the results very disappointing on many critical issues.

My immedieate visceral reaction to Center is - DLC - and a total lack of representation by DLC on issues important to me, plus the poorest job of public relations and defense strategy on tv and radio that anyone could imagine. My blood boils when a DLCer gets on tv again leaving better representatives to struggle for a voice.

I hope he doesn't stop running. I heard a 'debate' between Green and Guiliani once and I was impressed.

I think of Seder as telling the truth.