Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Comment that kills my morning
Over the last few years, I've learned to enjoy listening to Imus in the Morning. Imus himself was OK, I loved Chuck and could live with the other cast of characters who were a part of the show.
But the reason I listened/watched the show was to enjoy the wonderful insights of so many of his guests. I enjoyed listening to Jonathan Alter, Evan Thomas and John Mecham. I loved hearing from the historians, Doris Kearns-Goodwin, Douglas Brinkley, Michael Benchloss - who gave me a historical perspective to current events. I always learned something listening to the different political background players and journalists who would spin and discuss what was happening in the political world. I even enjoyed the politicians who came on, if for no other reason than Imus would actually tell them when they were full of crap.
But last week, Imus went stupid. First, his producer decided to discuss the Women's National Championship game, which he never should have done. Then, he took a dumb comment by Bernard way too much farther and insulted them Rutgers woman's team with a phrase everyone has now heard. It was racist, it was sexist and it was moronic. He won the prize for dumbest comment by a shock-jock for the decade in that moment.
His comment had an unintended cost. That cost is going to be very high. MSNBC just announced that they are taking off his simulcast immediately. That was their choice, I can't argue with them on that. CBS Radio has already suspended Imus, but as the advertisers are running as quickly as possible, I can already see the writing on the wall. He's finished. He will soon be relieved of his duties there also.
Now, I'm betting he will end up on satellite radio. Let's face facts, he's got a much bigger audience than Howard Stern, but his career as a truly public broadcaster is done. It is a shame that he ends in such a way. It's not surprising though. He loved to play with fire on his program, and he is now completely engulfed.
So I shall hunt for a decent alternative in the mornings. I have no idea where that will be. I am hoping that someone will step into the breach to give America the same type of program. Filled with intelligence and making fun of politicians and other hypocrites.
But the reason I listened/watched the show was to enjoy the wonderful insights of so many of his guests. I enjoyed listening to Jonathan Alter, Evan Thomas and John Mecham. I loved hearing from the historians, Doris Kearns-Goodwin, Douglas Brinkley, Michael Benchloss - who gave me a historical perspective to current events. I always learned something listening to the different political background players and journalists who would spin and discuss what was happening in the political world. I even enjoyed the politicians who came on, if for no other reason than Imus would actually tell them when they were full of crap.
But last week, Imus went stupid. First, his producer decided to discuss the Women's National Championship game, which he never should have done. Then, he took a dumb comment by Bernard way too much farther and insulted them Rutgers woman's team with a phrase everyone has now heard. It was racist, it was sexist and it was moronic. He won the prize for dumbest comment by a shock-jock for the decade in that moment.
His comment had an unintended cost. That cost is going to be very high. MSNBC just announced that they are taking off his simulcast immediately. That was their choice, I can't argue with them on that. CBS Radio has already suspended Imus, but as the advertisers are running as quickly as possible, I can already see the writing on the wall. He's finished. He will soon be relieved of his duties there also.
Now, I'm betting he will end up on satellite radio. Let's face facts, he's got a much bigger audience than Howard Stern, but his career as a truly public broadcaster is done. It is a shame that he ends in such a way. It's not surprising though. He loved to play with fire on his program, and he is now completely engulfed.
So I shall hunt for a decent alternative in the mornings. I have no idea where that will be. I am hoping that someone will step into the breach to give America the same type of program. Filled with intelligence and making fun of politicians and other hypocrites.
# posted by Kevin @ 7:12 PM 
