Rumor: Randi Rhodes to be WJNO-only?

[clbuck]

Take the following blog posting with a heaping of salt, but it sounds like that Randi's show is leaving national syndication, and will simply be a local West Palm Beach show on WJNO, like her show was before Air America was launched in March 2004. This seems to explain why she hasn't been on the air in over a week:

Less than a year after Randi Rhodes broke with Air America, returning to Palm Beach County to move her national show to the Nova-M network, she is again off the air, her show being guest hosted, often at the last minute, by Nancy Skinner. Rhodes and WJNO are preparing to relaunch her show as a local program from the West Palm Beach studios of the Clear Channel cluster, according to sources inside Clear Channel knowledgable about the preparations.

Rhodes and Nova-M have been blaming “technical problems” for the interruption of The Randi Rhodes show, but when pressed, a spokesman at Nova-M’s flagship station in Phoenix responded that “technical problems” could have a lot of different meanings. The many definitions of “technical” was echoed by sources at Clear Channel in West Palm Beach, who said there were no Clear Channel technical issues, and that the assumption that a technical problems had to do with equipment or transmission wouldn’t be correct.

Over the last few days, according to those familiar with the situation in West Palm Beach, WJNO has been making preparations for Rhodes to return to WJNO as a Clear Channel employee hosting a local show from their facilities. Though Clear Channel owns Premiere Radio Networks, the radio syndicator that distrubutes Rush Limbaugh, it is not believed her show will be syndicated when she returns.

More at: http://www.pbcliberal.com/index.php/2009/02/11/randi-rhodes-as-local-host-again/

The question is: what will the affiliates air in the 3 PM-6 PM Eastern slot if she leaves? Will Nova M move Mike Malloy to afternoons (which will give his show a big boost in attention)? The only other nationally syndicated progressive talk show that airs at that time is Air America's Doing Time with Ron Kuby.

[givemebackmycountry]

1. See, I was thinking she ran off and got married and is still partying

Guess it's a little more serious.
I'm not sure I understand what's happening here.
She was saying for weeks she had shit on Rush and she was going to lay it out if he kept up his current BS.

Then BAM, she's gone.
Something is up.

[Xenotime]

26. Rush needs to be investigated. This is total bullshit.

[dflprincess]

36. She's always implying she knows something we lesser mortals don't know

but can't divulge it for whatever reason.

I have never heard her follow through on one of these "I know something you don't know" tricks.

[Cato the Younger]

43. Yeah she does that a lot

And frankly that is why I think many of us are not writing to our local stations as much this time around to save her.

BRING US SAM and MARC!!!!!

[ronnykmarshall]

2. If this is true ... it sucks!

[bookman]

3. That stinks.

I love getting Randi on XM and getting the podcasts of her show on Nova M.

[bunnies]

4. Maybe she's getting a show on MSNBC.

:shrug: She was certainly lobbying for it.

[rvablue]

6. Hmmm. Interesting. I'm curious

any word on what the relationship/vibe was between her and Rachel?

I'm asking as this could figure into her maybe getting the 10 pm slot.

[bunnies]

9. Good question. I wish I knew.

All I know is - she's been talking about wanting that 10pm show ever since MSNBC announced it. She even asked listeners to call / write MSNBC on her behalf. Then *poof* she's gone.

[RamboLiberal]

13. I doubt it - she's not that good on TV

and IMHO she's a bit too unstable for TV. I hope she stays national on radio - but I think Randi can be her own worst enemy.

[bunnies]

15. aww. Thats too bad.

I've never seen her on tv. Instability doesnt seem to hurt Tweety much. :rofl:

[rvablue]

16. Exactly. But Randi is a woman so she needs to behave.

:sarcasm: of course.

[RamboLiberal]

33. Then she needs to learn not to break down in tears cause the boys

were a little tough on her. A couple of years ago she was going on Lou Dobbs and praising him to the heavens. Then one night she thought the panel was a bit tough on her and she had a snit fit and broke down afterwards crying about it.

There are a number of progressive women who know how to do TV and slap the boys when they need it.

[pilsner]

5. Peter B Collins

Maybe PBC should move to that time slot. I like his show better than Randi's:

http://green960.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=peterbcollins.xml

www.peterbcollins.com

[GregD]

30. Peter B is really quite excellent

His analysis is strong, he is far less emotional, and never as rude as Randi can frequently be.

Randi is a fighter and we all know she will come back swinging, but if replacing her voice is what happens next, then PBC would be a very very good choice.

[bridgit]

39. Peter B's cool

:thumbsup:

[redirish28]

7. What is going on? Did she say something to upset Nova M or is

Clear Channel forcing this hand? I know she still had some sort of Contract obligations with clear channel along with being wih Nova M and Air America.


There is more to this story. It makes no sense.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

10. I think it was her comments about Rush that did her in.

She talked about how Clear Channel had to lay off a bunch of people primarily because Rush took a huge contract and how if he would have given up some money, maybe they wouldn't have had to lay off so many people. I bet you anything that pissed off the Clear Channel management.

This really sucks. I miss Randi. My afternoons are empty now. Censorship sucks!!!!!!!

[Garbo 2004]

19. Randi's criticized Clear Channel before while on AAR & she was also under CC contract with WJNO at

the time. She and WJNO/CC still had a contractural relationship while she was at AAR.

She wasn't shy with her comments about CC and Rush previously, even while she still had a contractural relationship with Clear Channel.

[Bill219]

12. Mr Manzo is suing Nova M

http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/docket/CivilCourtCases/caseInfo.asp?caseNumber=CV2009-003470


I found the info in the comments section of this article

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2009/02/rhodes-nova-m-reportedly-working-it-out.html

[Liberal In Texas]

23. I think the Manzo thing was the trigger to what's going on.

Randi's good friend was either fired or laid off and I'm going to guess that she went to bat for him and the managers stuck to their guns, as managers tend to do. There may have been some negotiation about Randi paying Manzo but she's already supporting her staff in Florida, and the thing escalated to Randi refusing to do her show and perhaps now they're at an impasse.

As stubborn as Randi has shown she can be with AAR it could mean another change in where she finds herself in the continuing saga of The Randi Rhodes Show.

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

8. Seems to be some truth to it...

...it's being discussed at RR's message board;

http://forums.therandirhodesshow.com/index.php?s=60d7c06c601c3ee5309797a465877e47&showforum=3

[UnrepentantUnitarian]

14. Actually I just went through the entire thread and...

they don't know any more than we do. LTR blog talks about the "technical problem" but nothing specific...guessing that it may be a contract glitch that might be worked out. Who knows?

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/

[LaPera]

11. The excellent Peter B Collins Show !

[dkofos]

17. I won't miss her.

[Garbo 2004]

18. Randi had a separate contract with Clear Channel FL station when she was with AAR. May have kept

that when she went over to NovaM. Seemed to me that was her fall back position, so she'd still have a job as she signed on with new networks with uncertain futures.

Since she has been broadcasting locally from WJNO anyway, what "preparations" would have to be made regardless if she was syndicated or not? Contract? Does she still have a separate contract with WJNO/Clear Channel as she did when she was with AAR?

LTR info suggests the "technical problems" may be contractual issues with NovaM. I wonder if there's also a contractural issues between Clear Channel and NovaM re: Randi? Might help explain the odd but apparently joint statement of Rhodes and Drobney posted at NovaM, if the statement isn't disingenuous.

[Mist]

20. From what I can tell, it's a dispute between NovaM and Clear Channel. nt

[Garbo 2004]

21. That's what I was wondering. Odd for a net to post a joint statement with a host they're having a

contract dispute with (allegedly), however "amicable." If the statement is to be believed, NovaM and Randi are still buds and Randi has done all she can but it's not in her power to resolve the situation. So it suggests the hang up is a third party.

[eleny]

22. Maybe Sam Seder & Marc M will find their way back to radio voa Nova-M

[Cato the Younger]

42. That would be cool is Marc and Sam take Randi's spot on NovaM!!

That would be totally cool with me!!!

Come on Anita and Shelly!!! Give us Marc and Sam instead!!!!!! Just anyone but Nancy!!!

[ellenfl]

24. never mind. eom

[Mr. Sparkle]

25. That does not make sence.

according to talkers magazine, Randi gets over 1 million listeners a week.

[Xenotime]

28. This list represents our new enemies.

Only with the Fainess Doctrine can we make the playing field level. Otherwise, they will continue to fill the airwaves with poison.

[bdamomma]

31. no wonder so many people are messed up listening to all

that right wing spew.

[jazzjunkysue]

35. It's truly amazing that Obama won against all that hate. Honestly.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. I get her and Mike on podcast. I wonder how that will be affected.

Also, Randi had been shooting off at the mouth too much about Rush, about Franken. Someone in the Establishment got to her.

[mountainvue]

29. She's been on a downward slide for a while now,

sad to say. She was great in the beginning with Air America and I was a fervent listener. Things really started to go down hill around the time of her fall and the Hillary incident. Such a shame...

[valerief]

32. Thanks. I've been wondering what happened to her. I MISS HER!!!!

Funny, I sent XM Radio an email yesterday asking about her.

[RamboLiberal]

34. Just got an email from KPOJ

The latest info about Randi Rhodes……….
Friday 02-13-2009 3:28pm PT
Randi Rhodes has been off the air since February 3rd, 2009 due to issues between Nova M and Randi. Here is the latest info provided to us by Nova M Radio:


To all of Randi's listeners

You are all correct - I have not had the option to disclose what has been happening between Randi and Nova M...

You see, it's in her contract that she has total control, but, after Wednesday night, I want you all to know that Nova M has done everything we can to get her back on the air.

All this is her choice; if she wants to tell you all what the issue is, then I hope she does, but I can't according to her contract rules.

But I can tell you this I have wanted her back on the air. She's an amazing talent and needs to be heard.

Thank you all for all of your support.

Randi now has to make her decisions as to what she must do with her career...

Anita Drobny
Co-Founder, Nova M Radio

http://www.620kpoj.com/pages/randirhodes.html

[realitythink]

37. Good Riddance

She is rude and a fucking whack job. She thinks she's better than everyone else in radio and she is unstable. I've been listening to her for 5 years and have listened to her gradually go insane on the air.

I just hope that the Nova M people can find a new crop of talented progressives. I'm not sure Nancy Skinner is the right choice.

[tech3149]

38. Well it took five years to obtain your opinion and share it

I'll agree that she can be rude, opinionated, and self righteous, but she's damned sure right and puts up the facts to support her viewpoint.

As far as Nancy Skinner, I'd be happy to have half the brains she does. If you think you can do better get busy!
It's not like we're bloated with intelligent talk radio. Show us what you've got or STFU.

[Catshrink]

40. I'd like to hear Ron Reagan in her spot.

Then I can listen to him on the drive home.

[Cleita]

41. Let it be Mike Malloy.

I didn't listen to Ron Kuby before and doubt if I will now. I have nothing against him. It's just that he doesn't keep me want to stay tuned for three hours. I could also listen to Sam Seder.