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Radio talk show host quits non-conservative program
Star Tribune ^ | December 9, 2003 | Eric Black

Posted on 12/09/2003 10:38:51 AM PST by wallcrawlr

An effort by a recent Democratic congressional candidate to introduce a non-conservative alternative to the local talk radio scene got off to a shaky start Thanksgiving week when the star of the show, veteran local comedian Jeff Gerbino, quit after two days.

He complained that the boss wouldn't let him be funny or provocative and was turning the show into a "shameless plug for the DFL."

Janet Robert of Stillwater, a wealthy attorney who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House last year, said that she wouldn't discuss Gerbino's departure and that it wasn't fair to judge the show on its first two days. Promotional materials for the show feature almost exclusively Democratic officeholders but Roberts said the goal was to be centrist and politically independent. "Jeff was the one that was trying to push us too far to the left," she said.

Nationally and locally, the talk radio scene is dominated by conservatives, but Democrats have been trying to create a liberal radio network.

A Democratic investment group is close to buying radio stations in five major cities and recently hired Lizz Winstead, another veteran of the Twin Cities comedy scene and one of the creators of the "The Daily Show," to oversee the entertainment programming. Minnesota native Al Franken has also been mentioned as a possible host on the network.

Gerbino was one of a group of stand-up comics who helped build the local comedy club scene in the late 1970s. Louis Lee of the Acme Comedy Company said he wasn't surprised to hear about Gerbino's short, unhappy tenure in his latest gig because he's known in the comedy business as "not the easiest-going guy in the industry." Gerbino also worked as a drive-time radio host for two local stations in the 1990s.

Politically, he's been a maverick with Democrat leanings. Gerbino said that in the past eight presidential elections he has voted for four Democrats, two Republicans and two independents (John Anderson and Ross Perot). He said he wrote humorous material used in speeches by Gov. Tim Pawlenty during last year's campaign.

Robert and Gerbino met weekly for months to work on the format and philosophy of the show. "High Ground" premiered Nov. 24 on WMNN, 1330-AM, an all-news station.

During the first two shows, Gerbino felt that Robert micromanaged the content, the guest list and him. In an e-mail to the Star Tribune, he complained about an hour of the second show that featured this lineup of guests:

Sen. Mark Dayton, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, Attorney General Mike Hatch, a professor discussing the Democratic presidential field, state Rep. Tom Rukavina and Franken. All of the elected officials, plus Franken, are Democrats. Gerbino described the hour as a "donkey telethon" and said Robert criticized him for not "gushing" enough over Dayton and Oberstar. He also complained that Robert would not allow him to schedule any Republican guests and forbade him from mentioning his work for Pawlenty.

Turning the show into an "infomercial for the Democratic Party" would ring hollow for the audience and he couldn't be funny or provocative in such a format, Gerbino said.

Robert said she discouraged Gerbino from talking about his work for Pawlenty because the show was not supposed to be about Gerbino but about the issues. She said the show has no partisan leanings and has had Republicans as guests, although she could think of only one, State Auditor Pat Awada, who was on the show after Gerbino's departure.

She also said she is not the boss of the show, is only handling the public relations and hopes to be gone from the operation soon. Her goal is to line up enough affiliates that the show will be heard statewide within a year.

"High Ground," is continuing Monday-Friday from 1-3 p.m. with fill-in hosts who are auditioning to be the permanent replacement. Robert said a decision on permanent co-hosts will be made by Monday.

WMNN is owned by the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio but has a much smaller audience than MPR or any of the big local talk radio stations. John Rash, media buyer for Campbell Mithun advertising agency, said the flap over the show's creation and Gerbino's sudden departure had generated little talk at his end of the business because "High Ground" seems unlikely to be an attractive media buy with or without Gerbino. Gerbino, he said, isn't famous enough in comedy circles or political circles to get many people to sample a show on an unfamiliar station. If Franken launches a liberal talk show, it might different, he said, adding: "In advertising circles, what creates the most buzz is an audience."

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: defundnpr; liberalmedia; liberalradio; liberaltalkradio
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To: EdReform
Does WMNN actually come in in Minneapolis ?
21 posted on 12/09/2003 11:04:12 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: wallcrawlr
A comedian doing Democrat talk radio seems like a perfect match.
22 posted on 12/09/2003 11:05:03 AM PST by RightWhale (Close your tag lines)
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To: wallcrawlr
I do believe this goes under the heading of "miserable failure"
23 posted on 12/09/2003 11:05:03 AM PST by thoughtomator (The U.N. is a terrorist organization)
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To: thoughtomator
Liberals just don't have a sense of humor!


24 posted on 12/09/2003 11:08:41 AM PST by Bluntpoint
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To: wallcrawlr
Dems might be good at a few things, but running a business is not one of them. Sure, they'll pour endless amounts of cash into capturing an audience of ten, but that'll leave them broke for DNC gimmies. I love it, I love it, I love it!
25 posted on 12/09/2003 11:21:25 AM PST by blackdog (Proudly raising Wisconsin racing sheep since 1998......Sheep Darby tripple crown winners fer sure)
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To: Prime Choice
Who wants popcorn?

A box here, please! ...Any butter? :)

26 posted on 12/09/2003 11:27:57 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: Tall_Texan
Oddly enough, if properly run by business goals, these stations should morph into the exact opposite of what they are trying to do.

Format choices and hosts based on ratings will filter the liberality goop out of the payroll and replace them with conservatives. The public is in no mood for liberalism.

This situation should become mandatory case study at communications schools around the country.

27 posted on 12/09/2003 11:30:17 AM PST by blackdog (Proudly raising Wisconsin racing sheep since 1998......Sheep Darby tripple crown winners fer sure)
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To: cyborg
Wow we didn't even have to start a death watch

I know isnt that just the cat's meow?lol...

28 posted on 12/09/2003 11:49:53 AM PST by suzyq5558 (news anchor's, national commie's on view for all to gaze at with eye-popping disgust)
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To: suzyq5558
schadenfreud besides! LMAO... this is so hysterical
29 posted on 12/09/2003 11:55:52 AM PST by cyborg (far right extremist american...........)
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To: Tall_Texan
"This is, in its essence, everything that's wrong with liberalism. They want something that makes them feel good. They want dialogue only if one side is allowed to talk...... And they don't want to ever, ever, ever admit that they are liberal or that their cabal is a staged, phony attempt to make you think they are intelligent, well-meaning and popular."

Exactly!!! Democrats/liberals are all about 'the look' never 'substance'......and do a piss poor job with the 'look' as well.....

Democrats manufacture 'the look' in all they do:

Dems want to 'look' like they care about the little guy.
Dems want to 'look' like they are compassionate.
Dems want to 'look' like they care for minorities.
Dems want to 'look' cool.
Dems want to 'look' like being hip.
Dems want to 'look' like they are the mainstream.
Dems want to 'look' like they are for National Defense. ("we support the troops but, not the war...")
Dems want to 'look' like they are concerned for our troops.
Dems want to 'look' like they are serious in finding Saddam.
Dems want to 'look' like they care for crime prevention.
Dems want to 'look' like they matter.
Dems want to 'look' like they want to better America.
Dems want to 'look' like they are patriotic.
Dems want to 'look' like they are religious. (Ever notice dems rail and support their lynchpins, ACLU et al, to remove Christianity from all aspects of society but, as soon as a tragedy occurs, they are front and center leading prayer tributes - example: Columbine massacre; I was there,and noticed Gore front and center leading a prayer - what hypocrites! I digress.)
Dems want to 'look' like they understand what this country stands for.
Dems want to 'look' like now, they have a talk radio show.
>END< The list is long.
30 posted on 12/09/2003 12:13:16 PM PST by BluSky (“Don’t make me come down there.”)
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To: wallcrawlr
WMNN, 1330-AM "shameless plug for the DFL", "donkey telethon" Or MPR

What's the difference?
31 posted on 12/09/2003 12:14:28 PM PST by Broadside Joe
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To: wallcrawlr
Non conservative? What a strange way to put it.
32 posted on 12/09/2003 12:16:31 PM PST by cruiserman
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To: cyborg
Ya Baby! LMAO with ya!!
33 posted on 12/09/2003 12:29:16 PM PST by suzyq5558 (news anchor's, national commie's on view for all to gaze at with eye-popping disgust)
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To: Broadside Joe
The owner of MPR made over $250,000 last year. Is this a great country or what ?
34 posted on 12/09/2003 12:37:03 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: wallcrawlr
"a non-conservative alternative"

Notice that it's not a liberal alternative...it's just anti-conservative. Just like the empty liberal message, "We don't stand for anything, we just stand against conservatives". And they wonder why there isn't an audience.
35 posted on 12/09/2003 12:43:25 PM PST by WorldWatcher1
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Yeah and the worse part is that at least some of the 250k is taxpayer's money. It's all part of 'Minnesota nice'. Time to cut them off and then they can either sink or swim.
36 posted on 12/09/2003 12:44:34 PM PST by Broadside Joe
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To: Bluntpoint
The pic is hysterical :-)

37 posted on 12/09/2003 12:46:44 PM PST by Tamzee (Pennsylvanians for Bush! Join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PA4BushCheney/)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
crash and burn at lift off.....Bwahahahahahaha. The dems are in their death throws.

Red

38 posted on 12/09/2003 12:50:03 PM PST by Conservative4Ever (Dear Santa......I can explain.......)
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To: Broadside Joe
People are. Heard Kling saying they came up short of their fall fundraising goals. Not really a problem in my opinion. Kling could take a pay cut or they could sell WMNN and make up the difference. Easy.

Time to cut them off and then they can either sink or swim.

39 posted on 12/09/2003 12:50:25 PM PST by DManA
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To: Prime Choice
Me Me Me....*right hand raised* :)

Red

40 posted on 12/09/2003 12:51:30 PM PST by Conservative4Ever (Dear Santa......I can explain.......)
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