Re:Randi's Statement, NovaM, Randi's Lawyer, Sheldon Drobny's Breakdown, Mr. Manzo's Lawsuit, etc.

[orleans]

wow...

this from randi:

TO ALL:


NOVA M RADIO HAS NOT YET CORRECTED THE PROBLEM THAT HAS KEPT ME OFF THE AIR
DESPITE MY STRONG DESIRE AND READINESS TO BROADCAST MY SHOW. RESPECTING THE
EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS EXISTED BETWEEN NOVA M AND ME, AND
EXPECTING THE SOLUTION TO BE QUICKLY ACHIEVED, DETAILS OF THE TRIGGERING
EVENT WERE WITHHELD IN GOOD FAITH. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS MUCH: ANY
STATEMENT IMPLICATING ME AS BEING IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISRUPTION
IN THE RANDI RHODES SHOW IS PATENTLY FALSE. THIS ENTIRE SITUATION IS
SOLELY WITHIN THE CONTROL OF NOVA M.
IN LIGHT OF MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, MY SHOW WILL BE SEEKING A NEW HOME.
I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED PATIENCE AND INDULGENCE IN RESPECTING MY
RIGHTS DURING THIS TIME. YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT IS CHERISHED. THANK YOU.



RANDI RHODES
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/

I was planning to save most of this for my Bird column this week, but the news is coming too fast and furious today not to follow up on my recent post concerning Randi Rhodes' disappearance from Nova M radio. Indeed, that lefty AM talk network seems to be going down faster than last week's Flight 3407 to Buffalo.


Trade pub Radio and Records reports that, "Network general manager Eric Reinert tells R&R that Nova M is no longer an entity and that a new company called On Second Thought LLC has been formed and is moving forward. Reinart also confirms that Rhodes is no longer associated with the group."

No duh on the Rhodester exiting the doomed flight. The report also mentions ex-CEO John Manzo's lawsuit against Nova M, which you can read in its entirety, here. It's a juicy lil' dose of legalese claiming breach of contract. It also asserts that the Drobnys failed to pay Manzo's withheld taxes to the feds, that they defamed him, and generally acted loonier than Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston...or Chris Brown and Rihanna...or Britney and Kevin Federline...Hey, take your pick.


The Radio Equalizer blog has posted a statement it says is from Randi Rhodes' attorney Robert Gaulin. It reads,

"The Randi Rhodes' on-air home for less than a year will shut its doors. In an email message of February 17th from counsel for Nova M Radio, Inc. to Randi's entertainment attorney, Robert V. Gaulin, the company is said to have been advised to file for bankruptcy protection next week. All payroll deposits were reversed on Tuesday, leaving Nova's employees unpaid for the past two weeks.

On Sunday, Nova received a letter from Mr. Gaulin asserting that the contract with Ms. Rhodes was terminated due to material breaches and other reasons. Ms. Rhodes had not broadcast for over a week prior to this time, a situation which was diplomatically referred to as a `problem' that was solely within Nova's control to solve. A few days earlier, Sheldon Drobny, founder of Nova M, and a co-founder of Air America Radio, attempted suicide and is hospitalized in Chicago.

Mr. Gaulin indicated on Randi's behalf that `We saw this coming, but are most saddened by the tragic news regarding Sheldon Drobny. Randi is devastated by the impact of these events upon her fiercely loyal audience, affiliates and sponsors.Discussions are already being conducted for Randi's swift return to the air. Stay tuned.'

It's after five, so I won't be able to talk to Gaulin till tomorrow. But I did speak to a weepy Anita Drobny yesterday.She would not confirm the rumors about her hubby's suicide attempt, though she did give me a non-denial denial on it.

"My husband had a breakdown, that's the most correct thing I can say," she sobbed. "A breakdown from all the radio stuff."

As for the Manzo lawsuit, she called it "ridiculous," and stated that Manzo was just "lashing out." Regarding Randi Rhodes, she claimed, "People are saying it's about money. It's not about money at all. I just could not fulfill one of her requirements."

So what were these requirements, and does a specific type of entertainment insurance have something to do with Rhodes' departure? Did the Drobny's do some sort of deal with Mike Newcomb, and is he now sitting pretty in the catbird seat? And finally, are the Drobnys really the heavies everyone's portraying them to be, or is there a secret villain lurking in the wings, probably with an eyepatch and a fake leg? Randi's mouthpiece is right: Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment of As the AM Dial Turns...
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2009/02/nova_m_deader_than_bernie_mac.php

another link (with comments)
http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=1167570&spid=24698

another:
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/02/17/alert-the-bill-press-nova-m-goes-under/

another:
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2009/02/nova_m_meltdown_randi_rhodes_d.php

[orleans]

1. ...another new home... and where is that going to be

and what about mike malloy? is he going to be without a job as well?

[Garbo 2004]

2. Malloy's staying. n/t

[ConsAreLiars]

3. Mike Malloy commented on his show that everything he's seen on the net

has not been been even close, "not even the same county." He said he knows but contractually cannot tell, but if he ever discovers something accurate online he'll give the link. I'll wait for that.

[Garbo 2004]

7. Did he say that again this week or are you referring to what he said a week ago?

I recall he said that previously but that was before Randi and Nova M severed their relationship.

This week he wouldn't talk about it, at least that's what he said when I was listening.

[Garbo 2004]

4. Hotair...Michelle Malkin's site. n/t

[Political Heretic]

5. This shit is insane - big black eye for progressive radio. Meanwhile Freepers laugh and cheer.

Right wing talk goes nuts at our expense... :(

[SeattleGirl]

6. Drives me crazy too, but then I remember that the wingers got off

to a rough start too.

Sometimes you just have to look 'em in the eyes and say, Fuck you.

[WolverineDG]

8. So all we have is a days' old statement from Randi

a statement from her lawyer with a lot of spin, a paragraph based on that attorney's pleadings (which never make the opposing party look good anyway), a statement from Anita that is also spin, & something from Malloy (who earlier asked everyone to STFU & let Randi & Anita sort things out) that says he hasn't seen anything accurate.

Sounds to me like if the only thing you know is what you read on the net, then you don't know squat.

dg