Franken Signs Deal With Liberal Radio Venture [Oh Boy, Wonder Who Will Listen..]

TBO.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

Franken Signs Deal With Liberal Radio Venture By Seth Sutel The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - They haven't got a name or a launch date yet, but the entrepreneurs who dream of launching a liberal radio network have just landed themselves a lead man: Comedian and best-selling author Al Franken. Progress Media planned to announce Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Franken to host a live, three-hour daily broadcast that would form the anchor of the programming schedule, according to people familiar with the matter.

In an interview, Franken said the format of the show was still evolving, but he said he was certain that it wouldn't be akin to that used by his rival Rush Limbaugh, which Franken described as "non-guested confrontation."

"He has no one on the show but it's confrontation," Franken said. "His show is just him railing for three hours."

Franken said he planned to use a mix of interviews, calls from listeners and scripted comedy. He said he planned to have a co-host with long experience in radio, but he said that role had not been finalized.

Franken had long been rumored to be interested in a deal with Progress Media, the startup company that is assembling radio stations and talent for a radio network to challenge conservative talk show powerhouses like Limbaugh.

But Franken had been holding off in recent months, partly to promote his hot-selling book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," and partly because he had reservations about the previous owners of the venture.

"Things got more serious in terms of putting together stations and money to make this possible" with the change in ownership, Franken said.

Last November the company was bought by an investment group led by Mark Walsh, a former America Online executive and adviser to the Democratic National Committee, from the venture capitalists Sheldon and Anita Drobny.

Walsh, who serves as CEO of Progress Media, also said the new network had reached its first major distribution agreement, with the Chicago AM station WNTD. He said he expects to announce at least three other distribution deals in the coming weeks.

Walsh acknowledged that much work remains to be done on the network before it becomes a viable business, including lining up technical arrangements and setting up offices and studios.

He said that about 65 percent of the network's programming has been decided, but he declined to elaborate beyond disclosing another new show to be co-hosted by the environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called "Champions of Justice."

The network also has yet to decide on a name. Last month the company indicated it would call the radio network Central Air, but Walsh said Tuesday the company was no longer certain it would be using that name.

Putting Franken in the midday time slot of noon to 3 p.m. Eastern time is a direct challenge to Limbaugh, whose hugely successful show occupies the same time slot.

Franken, whose earlier book was called "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot," said he plans to call up his nemesis for advice on his own show since Limbaugh has often said he wonders why new radio hosts don't seek out his counsel.

"I'll ask him advice: how he approaches a show, how he frames an issue. If it doesn't happen it will be - very understandably - because he won't take my call," Franken said.

Franken said his contract with Progress Media would last just one year, after which time both sides would reassess how things were going. He also said he very much wanted to do the show during a presidential election year.

"I'm interested in doing what I can to affect this election," Franken said. "I've been thinking about what's the best use of my energies - I hope this is it."

AP-ES-01-13-04 1845EST

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAS9H7MEPD.html

[Howlin]

YAWN!!!

[Viking2002]

He'll invite fellow libs on his show and they'll have a group whine-fest for three hours.

I give this charade six months before it's terminal.

[Sub-Driver]

don't buy stock!

[EllaMinnow]

"I'm Al Franken. I'm here to present the funniest ad award. I'm a last-minute substitution, former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill was supposed to be the presenter, but unfortunately he was murdered."

I heard that the little creep said that last night. If that's his idea of humor, I don't think he'll last very long.
On the bright side, he does have a face for radio.

[AuntB]

Check this out:
www.frankenlies.com

[BenLurkin]

The NEA will find a way to broadcast it live into our nation's classrooms.

[Robson]

As a liberal-leaner, I'm concerned about this. I've seen a lot of interviews with Franken, and while I find him an effective writer, he's not a very charismatic presence. He tends to come off coarse and dismissive. It'll hurt the cause.

They'd be much better off with Jon Stewart (or any of the other folks from the Daily Show.)

[billhilly]

Al Franken should team with a really funny man, Ben Stein, and they could call their show....There, you are ahead of me already. Ben, being a conservative, could give the show some spirit, to enliven what is sure to be a gloomy outlook on life.

[syriacus]

Franken said his letter to Ashcroft requesting information about his practicing celibacy was just a prank, not a lie.

I say the new show should be named

The Prankin' Al Franken Show

[gramho12]

On the bright side, he does have a face for radio.

You stole my thunder. But considering he doesn't have a voice for radio either, or a personality... other than that, he should be just the ticket for liberal radio.

One thing though, he can't use profanity, so there goes his humor,too.

[Reactionary]

Jon Stewart is an improvement, although not much of one.

Why is it that liberals come off as snide, condescending and dismissive?

[Inyokern]

[EllaMinnow]

Why is it that liberals come off as snide, condescending and dismissive?

Because they are.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Yawn, er, Hollywood Leftist Ping!!!

Please FReepmail me if you want on /off this ping list.

[b4its2late]

Wonder who will listen?

The trolls that grace us with their presence and give us something to ZOT.

[sgtbono2002]

3 hours of Franken would gag a maggot.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

If he thinks he's got a legitimate shot at Rush, or even Bill O'Reilly (who also goes head to head with Rush), he's got another thing coming. Rush may take his call just to humor him, though.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"I've been thinking about what's the best use of my energies - I hope this is it."

So do I, Al. Venting your bowels for the pleasure of a couple dozen leftists straining to inhale your wisdom sounds like a fine use of your intellect and energies. However, if for some unforseeable reason the poor lad's radio gig doesn't work out, the next best use of Franken's energies might be to plunge his head into an industrial blender operating on the 'liquify' setting. Well, at least that's something I wouldn't mind listening to.