MSNBC, the New Clinton News Network?

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | 2/18/04 | Lowell Ponte

[dwilli]

Imus has blasted Kaplan for years. Wonder if his
slamming will tone down a bit.

[leadpenny]

How goes Imus' relationship with Kaplan and MSNBC will be the most fun and the most telling one to watch.

[Fresh Wind]

Slimus will do what he has to do to remain employed. For someone without any obvious talent, and who talks like he has a golf ball in his mouth, there aren't many options. He will assume the position and smile.

[Common Tator]

The ratings drudge had up a couple of days ago showed Fox steady with O'Reilly at 2.2, Hannity and Combs at 1.7, Gretta at 1.2, Shep at 1.0 . Those were the top 4 ... all Fox.

Cnn's tops was Larry King with 0.8, and Arron Brown with a 0.5. Except for Larry King, MSNBC and CNN were tied.

You will not that MSNBC did not go up, and neither did Fox. CNN fell. Kaplan was responsible for the major decline in CNN. The partisan crap on their air is costing them money.

I suspect that Kaplan will pretty much clean house. That will give him a year to play. At the end of the year MSNBC will either be shut down or closed.

I don't know who was responsible for the Dennis Miller show but it is doing a 0.2. It has to be the worst think I have seen since Alan Keyes.

[leadpenny]

Isn't Miller on CNBC?

[sauropod]

It didn't yesterday morning. Funnier than hell!

[Common Tator]

Isn't Miller on CNBC?

Yes, but it is still stupid programming on a Channel owned by NBC.

Humor like Miller is trying to do needs a group reaction. They need a live audience or at least a sound track or drumb or bumper music. Their has to be a way to create a crowd reation if humor is to work on TV. That is why Johnny Carson, Leno, and the rest have live audiences. IT is not a luxury it is a necessity.

That is why all the sitcoms used a sound track or were recorded before a live audience. Archie Bunker for example was done before a live audience.

For people to enjoy humor they need a release. Radio stations do it with bumpers that give a quick release sound that lets the audience laugh. You can also do humor into commerial or end of segment uptemp music. or even a drum.

But trying to be funny with no audience or audience substitute is just plane ignorance. Radio and Televsion people have known this for 70 years ago.

[leadpenny]

Of course Imus has no talent. He would be the first to tell you that. But, he knows how to surround himself with talent. As for being employed at MSNBC, I don't believe he is. His is a radio program that is shown on MSNBC.

[leadpenny]

I'll take your word for it. I haven't watched Miller's show yet. I don't think Kaplan will have any say in CNBC.

[Timm]

Scarborough's ratings are low, anyway, but I like his show a lot better than Greta's.

Kerry's remarks about the "fairness doctrine" are disturbing. It reminds me of the greater danger of the Democrats getting their hands on the PATRIOT powers-- which they will, sooner or later.

Are you ready to be investigated and charged as terrorists, gun owners?

[RonPaulLives]

MS Who??

Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

[theDentist]

MSNBC: Mass. Senators Noisome Broadcasting Service

[thesummerwind]

Humor like Miller is trying to do needs a group reaction. They need a live audience ............ There has to be a way to create a crowd reation if humor is to work on TV. That is why Johnny Carson, Leno, and the rest have live audiences. IT is not a luxury it is a necessity.

So VERY TRUE. I hate to see Dennis go down the drain, but it's not working, and I was praying that it would.

I'm getting a good tape recorder and tape the opening news/monologue each night that the show stays on. I hope they don't pull it real soon. Dennis is still a riot and brilliant, and I hate the crumby way that show is produced. It almost looks like they are trying to fail!!!!

[leadpenny]

I'm getting a good tape recorder and tape the opening news/monologue each night that the show stays on.

By the looks of what you and CT say, those may be collector's items.

[geedee]

Humor like Miller is trying to do needs a group reaction.

Agreed. And an hour of it's like watching paint dry. Miller needs to be someone's sidekick, someone's sock-puppet, someone who darts in and out . . . not someone manning the tiller.

[Howlin]

I am bumping this old article so you all can read exactly what is going on at MSNBC.

And don't miss the link to ABC.

[PhiKapMom]

You are one brave person -- last time I mentioned that about the Keyes show, I got slammed big time. It was the wrong format and the show was horrible thanks to what the network execs wanted.

[OldFriend]

I suspect that MSNBC will be off the air after the election. They are only there to provide a venue for DNC faxline talking points.

[Common Tator]

Keyes is a pompous fool. He was in radio when there was little else except Rush. He was a major failure on the air. Realize that to be a success in radio one needs to garner less than 10 percent of the audience. Keyes radio audience was very small. He had no clout at the polls.

He is also stupid. For example before the 2,000 South Carolina primary he could have dropped out and worked for Bush. That way, Dubya would have owed him. Keyes would have gotten a good job in the Bush administration. He would have power and prestige. The media would have given it to him. Instead he stupidly chose defeat and no future.

He chose to fight Bush to the end and ended up not even being allowed on the floor of the 2000 Republican convention. He has not had any influence for several years. He is at best a very minor footnote in history. A failed man with a handful of losers for followers.

Keyes has all the appeal of a right wing dictator. But he failed as I knew he would. He is history. Keyes pitch was the same pitch used by Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro. All dictators argue that the will of the people is misguided. The people are duped by others and the potential dictator is the only one who can set things straight. Dictators, once elected, do what their conscience tells them is right. It does not matter what the public wants for they are certain they are in the right. They promise to follow the dictates of their own conscience. People who follow their own dictates are by definition dictators.

This nation is a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people. We elect public servants.. not public rulers. Our servants are like all servants. They only exist as long as they serve the will of their masters. Here the masters are the voters.

Keyes followers wanted a ruler. A master who would not bow to the will of the people. He and his followers do not trust the public. They disagree with most voters. They can not get a majority convinced to their views, so they want a man who will do as they want and not bother to convince a majority of the people.

In the USA such people are doomed to failure. NO Hitler, Stalin, Castro or Keyes will ever make it in the USA. Keyes is what our founding fathers worked so hard to prevent. They succeeded.