Crucially, many of Mr. Imus big-name guests from the worlds of politics and media appear ready to welcome him back with open arms, unconcerned about the inevitable charges that by returning to the scene of the crime, theyre accessories to buddy-buddy bigotry. Indeed, Mr. Carvillenot a man known for turning down opportunities for publicitytold The Observer that hes already locked in as a guest on Mr. Imus first day back.
The New Yorkers Ken Auletta was similarly unequivocal. I said I wouldnt go on at the time of the controversy, he told The Observer. But I wouldnt make that same claim today. Because I think people deserve second chances. If you believe in rehabilitation, if you dont believe in the death penalty, you believe that some people can be reformed and changed....
And even after his fall from grace, Mr. Imus would appear to be a safe bet on that score. Mr. Boyce said that a number of national advertisers had already lined up behind Mr. Imus, though he declined to name any. I can tell you from talking to our sales force thats out pitching the show, I dont think they have had a great deal of resistance, he said...
According to Mr. Boyce, for the past couple of weeks since the deal was inked, Mr. Imus, who declined to be interviewed for this story, has been micromanaging every facet of the soon-to-launch program, from the sound of the jingles to the look of the clock, to the frequency and timing of the commercial breaks. Hes intimately involved with these decisions, said Mr. Boyce. This isnt a guy who is sitting back with his feet propped up letting other people put this show on the air.
One of Mr. Imus priorities seems to be bringing back his old gang. Charles McCord, Mr. Imus longtime on-air sidekick, will return to the show, according to Mr. Boyce. And Bernard McGuirk, the producer who, during an on-air call, goaded Mr. Imus into making his fateful comments about the Rutgers team, is rumored to have an off-air rolethough Mr. Boyce wouldnt comment on it.
I hope I do not have to hear one word about the “scandal.”
This is good news about Bernie, too.