Franken vows to bash Bush as host on new talk-radio network

Boston Globe ^ | 3/11/2004 | Franken vows to bash Bush as host on new talk-radio network

[SolutionsOnly]

After months of media buzz, the so-called liberal talk-radio network -- officially known as Air America Radio -- announced yesterday it will launch on March 31 in four cities with comedy-oriented programming headlined by comedians Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo.

[Lost Highway]

From their Hosts & Peronalities page.

We are not quite ready to unveil our compelling and engaging lineup.

[prion]

Wow! How's this for some tortured prose:

About Air America Radio

History

The Eighties began a heyday for Talk Radio that continues into this century. The format gained popularity among adults who were tired of hearing the same songs over and over on music radio, and who were interested in hearing issues discussed by the nascent stars of the industry. The rhetoric was one-sided and soon grew politically powerful. The combination of power and the rhetorical vacuum set the stage for Air America Radio.

The pendulum is now swinging the other way and the market hungers for a balance of rhetoric. Air America Radio brings this balance in the form of political satire in the grand tradition of Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show. In fact, Emmy Award winning veteran of SNL, Al Franken, and the co-creator of The Daily Show, Lizz Winstead, lead an all-star cast that includes Janeane Garofalo (The Larry Sanders Show Starring Gary Shandling, The Truth About Dogs and Cats) and Rap star Chuck D, in a spirited, funny look at the day?s hottest issues.

Recognizing the opportunity to sell goods and services to the more than half of all Americans who are not currently listening to the existing Talk Radio stars and stations, Air America?s investors moved quickly to secure distribution on some of the best signals in the major markets.

[longtermmemmory]

Wooopie goldberg II.

notice how she has disappeared from site.

[Lost Highway]

I think it's going to last much longer than many do. It won't have the nationwide appeal that conservative shows do but there are pockets where it should do well enough to stay on the air. (New York, San Fran, Chicago, Hollywood)

Fundamentally I think it's good for conservatives. The more these people talk the more they help conservatives. Maybe Michael Moore will get a show!

[Lost Highway]

I can't wait to hear the Chuck D show. Yaaaa Boyeeeee!

[longtermmemmory]

site = sight (beware the spellcheck knomes)

[mj1234]

I hope you are right but.....

Soros has pledged millions - the show will be on till at
least november. They can afford to be unsuccessful and
if they need to be on longer - PBS will pick them up at
taxpayer expense.

[wayoverontheright]

Surely the market for "Bush bashing" is being adequately served by the entire main-stream media. It would seem to me from an investment standpoint utterly foolhardy to be attempting to sell a commodity the market for which is already saturated with established players.

[John123]

As Ann Coulter said on FNC last year, encourage your liberal friends to listen to liberal venues. After a while, they will become conservative. :)

[Spotsy]

I honestly don't see how this new network is going to gain any traction, without fact to back-up the vitriol, most will be put off by it.

Facts never slowed these people down. And on those rare occasions when their lies are exposed, they claim the "satire" or "humor" defense.

[SolutionsOnly]

***" It would seem to me from an investment standpoint utterly foolhardy to be attempting to sell a commodity the market for which is already saturated with established players."***

Agreed, but wisdom is not the left's strength.

[SolutionsOnly]

**"Facts never slowed these people down"***

True, but it's preaching to the choir and given that there's some 250 million in this country, it's a pretty small - albeit noisy - choir. I don't think it will resonate with the average American.

[TomGuy]

Next thing you know, they'll be brining Phil Donahue back as a talk show host.

[The libs are clueless on the real mood of the American public.]

[anniegetyourgun]

Saw that too....compelling one to throw up and engaging listeners in creative ways to turn the dial....

[anniegetyourgun]

They'll be pitching to the brainless single females, so it's probably more like ads for birth control, Planned Parenthood, and lots of public service ads. Oh, and I would expect many ads designed to target and solicit the homosexual community as well.

[SpinyNorman]

I wanna be a seminar caller!!! Can we do it too??

One has to believe that we can run rings around them, inasmuch as we are not braindead like the liberal seminar callers!!

I can hear it now: "Hi Al!! I am a lifelong liberal, I voted for Clinton, both of them, and I agree with 99% of what you say, BUT....(insert clever trap here).

I think even the slightese effort in this regard will have Franken throwing his chair at the microphone (after he has drowned it in spittle)!

[SpinyNorman]

slighese = slightest. Ooops.

[rod1]

Actually, I am very heartened to hear Franken will be tied to an enclosed studio by his lonesome much of the day. it is the perfect place for him (well a few bars and don't feed the animal signs might improve it a bit). It may mean it will be safe to walk the streets without fear of him tackling/attacking people. He is such a blowhard he will implode to be confined in a studio without direct people contact. It amazes me these guys think what Rush et al. do is easy. This will be a huge conservative win in the on going political war to have them actually choose to fight us on our strongest battleground. Thank goodness these liberals eventually overestimate their real intelligence.

[TomGuy]

Quotes from their website. Why does this bring to mind 'Not Ready for Primetime Players'?

Our Programs

We are not quite ready to unveil our programs just yet. Watch this space as we reinvent talk radio.
Programs will include fast-paced morning and afternoon “drive” magazine shows, personality-driven talk shows during midday and evenings, and insightful ninety second commentaries by noted business and political leaders, show business figures, journalists, sport idols, prominent authors, and social observers.

Hosts & Personalities

We are not quite ready to unveil our compelling and engaging lineup.

[robertpaulsen]

They have enough start-up money for two years.