As a kid Emmett Tyrell was one of those who got mocked, pushed around, de-pantsed in the hallway and locked inside his locker.
As a kid Don Imus was one of those doing it to him.
Imus did try to do some good, with his foundation and camp for children with cancer. One big difference between Imus and the ‘journalists’ Tyrell is referring to is that Imus didn’t try to pass himself off as an expert, or to label his show ‘news’.
This is a weird article.
I woke up listening to Imus in the mornings back in the 60s. Lost him from my radar after those years.
I recall he had a decent couple of comedy routines: The Columbia School of Live Auditions was one of my favorites. I also recall when he was having a contract “dispute” with his network, ABC? Commenting on the air he said his contract paid him third place in morning shows in NYC albeit he was number one in audience numbers. He continued he could not, by contract, do a job action and would only be paid for not showing up was for “unexpected disasters and the like”. He closed with let’s see what happens tomorrow. Well, his show went on the air with a stand in for about two hours. When he arrived he said he was late because “the enemy took the bridge and he had to detour”. The next day, late again, he said he did not want to break the turtle parade on the Belt Parkway! The third day he was on time with a new contract putting him at number one. That is how I remember him, a sarcastic but funny DJ. The later years I leave for others to comment about.
Did Howard Stern Celebrate his Death? Oh wait, he is off for the Holidays. We’ll have to wait until Monday to find out.
The Left loved Imus until the Nappy Headed Hoe controversy, (note that he didn’t originally say it, he just reacted and repeated what one of his on air staff said).
Then we had his scathing Routine directed at President Clinton at the Correspondents Dinner.
...not to mention that his humor was bleak.
The author forgot to mention that Imus was also very boring.
Yeah, Imus got mean. But in his heyday he was funny. His ego was his schtick.
In 18 years of driving around New England before Satellite radio I became a fan of several radio folks—and then they became too rich and over exposed, and they flamed out: Imus, Stern, Beck, Dr Laura, Rush...
It doesn’t mean they are bad people. It’s the nature of the business. And as the spotlight fades, they become more outrageous in order to get us back. They always fail.
” as with Imus’ claim that Hillary is “Satan,” it lacks wit and imagination.”
The truth may sometimes seem to lack wit and imagination.
I don’t know what this author is going on about. Tyrell of the very high voice, I might add. Imus was an equal opportunity offender. Everyone got it in the neck. But he did have a fun show with Charles, Rob Bartlett and, of course, Bernard McQuirk who was the one who really got Imus in trouble. Bernie now has his radio spot.
Never understood the appeal for Imus and his phony howdy doody "cowboy" act. Walking around like Mommy dressed him for Halloween. He was a child who never grew up and his sophomoric humor was quite embarrassing to watch coming from a supposed adult. But then I look around at his boorish behavior of his defenders and it makes sense...
I listened to Imus quite often.
He had great guests he’d interview and ask questions most others would never touch.
He helped raise hundreds of millions for charity and his ranch for sick kids did great work.
And that’s a damn sight better than any of us.
Kaslin, you have great interesting posts. Keep up the good work and those how think not can kiss my rear.
But I will...
I was never really an Imus follower. I know I heard his show occasionally over the last several decades, but not very often and never regularly. Not like I enjoyed Rush or others.
Most of my exposure to Imus was when he did something or said something that caught national attention, the biggest I am aware of being his 'nappy headed hoes" remarks.
Whatever one thought of Imus, that remark or any of his others, he was the existential (hearing that word a lot lately) example of what the first amendment is there for.
I guess he was 79 when he died. I thought he was at least 79 back in the ‘90s. He was interesting for a while, and then he got boring. My husband still is wearing wool shirts from Fred Imus’ Auto Body Express clothing line.