This NYT Article on Air America Is Brilliant

[Guest Cerebus]

April Fools. Har har.

 

Talk Network Makes Debut, With Rage a No-Show

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

 

Published: April 1, 2004

 

The tone of Air America was supposed to be as bold and belligerent as Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, an unapologetically liberal riposte to the conservative radio talk shows that dominate the airwaves.

 

The comedian Al Franken even named his three-hour program the "The O'Franken Report," to tweak his conservative nemesis, Bill O'Reilly, yet his maiden show proved to be oddly subdued and, at times, defensive.

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Mr. Franken interviewed the salt-of-the-earth parents of his best friend in Minnesota to prove that liberals do not hate America, as the conservative commentator Ann Coulter has charged.

 

"That's unbelievable," Carol Griffin, 77, said of the accusation while on vacation in Florida. "Liberals are the ones that love America. Honestly."

 

There is little chance that Air America will overtake its conservative competitors any time soon. Rush Limbaugh is heard on more than 600 stations, including WABC in New York.

 

The Air America Radio network made its debut in five markets: New York; Chicago; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; and San Bernardino-Riverside, Calif.

 

Air America may yet grow as a radio network, but the first day mostly highlighted the difficulty of trying to match the fervor and ferocity of right-wing radio. Satire and sarcasm come more easily than rage to Mr. Franken, a former "Saturday Night Live" performer and writer. And rage — unbound by reason or reticence — is what fuels the most successful political talk shows.

 

Mr. Franken began his show by saying, "Yeah, we are angry," but he never let loose with the kind of colorful, free-flowing rant that has proved so cathartic to like-minded listeners. (That sort of diatribe was provided later in the afternoon by the longtime liberal radio talk show host Randi Rhodes, who likened the Bushes to the Corleone family in "The Godfather" and said the president was Fredo.) Mr. Franken stuck instead to a middle ground of mockery and mild indignation.

 

The Bush administration's handling or mishandling of the war on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was the main topic on all the shows on Air America, which began at noon with Mr. Franken's show and ended with "Majority Report, " with the actress Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder as hosts.

 

Mr. Franken's guests included Bob Kerrey, the former Democratic senator from Nebraska who is now a member of the Sept. 11 commission, the documentary filmmaker Michael Moore and, as a caller from Tennessee, former Vice President Al Gore. ("Hi, Al," Mr. Franken said. "Hi, Al," Mr Gore replied.)

 

Mr. Gore's call was one of the show's highlights. Mr. Moore, who supported Ralph Nader in the 2000 election, had a few words to say to the Democratic nominee who won the popular vote but still lost the election to George W. Bush.

 

"We're really sorry, Al," Mr. Moore mumbled. Mr. Gore paused for a beat, then asked, "For what, Michael?" Mr. Moore then began a long, winding explanation of how he himself had not campaigned for Mr. Nader in swing states. Mr. Gore again paused, then added politely, "What are you saying?"

 

For the kickoff, Mr. Franken invited some of his more famous friends to make call-in cameos; Ben Stein, a former speechwriter for President Richard M. Nixon, was one. The other was G. Gordon Liddy of Watergate fame. They did not bring great material with them.

 

Neither did Bob Elliott, who was the Bob of the old "Bob & Ray Show," and was tapped by Mr. Franken to perform a skit about a terrorist sneaking weapons onto an airplane. In the skit, a would-be hijacker-terrorist explains that he made his dog swallow a box-cutter before takeoff, saying, "He gets airsick, or so we hope."

 

The national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, referred to as Condi, came under attack, as did Mr. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld (Mr. Franken does a very funny impersonation of Mr. Rumsfeld). But most of Mr. Franken's ire was directed at conservative commentators, including Mr. Limbaugh and his drug problems and the outrageous statements of Ms. Coulter, whom Mr. Franken described as a "walking horror show." On the show, Mr. Franken pretended to lock an irate Ms. Coulter, impersonated by the actress Bebe Neuwirth, in the green room.

 

And clearly, it is conservative talk radio that galls Mr. Franken the most. "The radical right wing has taken over the White House, Congress, and increasingly, the courts," he complained in his introductory remarks. "And most insidiously, the airwaves."

 

Edited to make KKK happy

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

The joke's on you -- I'm not registering at the NYT on my work computer. Just post it...

[Guest thebigjig]

The problem with the Bush/Corleone comparison... is that Fredo was loveable and you felt sorry for him... I think Dubyah is more like Sonny. Hotheaded, over-ambitious... doesnt think things through before he does something

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

And rage — unbound by reason or reticence — is what fuels the most successful political talk shows.

 

Preach on there -- Talk-radio is nothing more than hate speech.

 

Mr. Franken's guests included Bob Kerrey, the former Democratic senator from Nebraska who is now a member of the Sept. 11 commission, the documentary filmmaker Michael Moore and, as a caller from Tennessee, former Vice President Al Gore. ("Hi, Al," Mr. Franken said. "Hi, Al," Mr Gore replied.)

 

If only Al (Gore, that is *lol2004*) showed this side of himself during Election 2000 we would have a booming economy and world peace.

 

"We're really sorry, Al," Mr. Moore mumbled. Mr. Gore paused for a beat, then asked, "For what, Michael?" Mr. Moore then began a long, winding explanation of how he himself had not campaigned for Mr. Nader in swing states. Mr. Gore again paused, then added politely, "What are you saying?"

 

This is exactly the type of conservative bias I'm talking about -- Mr. Michael Moore long-winded?! I think not.

 

*must ... not ... break ... keyfabe ... no ... matter ... how ... hard ...*

 

For the kickoff, Mr. Franken invited some of his more famous friends to make call-in cameos; Ben Stein, a former speechwriter for President Richard M. Nixon, was one. The other was G. Gordon Liddy of Watergate fame. They did not bring great material with them.

 

See? This is a Right-Wing plot to bring this network down. Show up and under-perform. Why did Al even bother to have these creatins on the air in the first place? I mean, couldn't they just go over to FAUX NEWS?!

 

Keep fighting the good fight, Al (Franken, that is *lol2004*...)

[Guest MikeSC]

And rage — unbound by reason or reticence — is what fuels the most successful political talk shows.

Preach on there -- Talk-radio is nothing more than hate speech.

Except for Stern. He's funny.

Mr. Franken's guests included Bob Kerrey, the former Democratic senator from Nebraska who is now a member of the Sept. 11 commission, the documentary filmmaker Michael Moore and, as a caller from Tennessee, former Vice President Al Gore. ("Hi, Al," Mr. Franken said. "Hi, Al," Mr Gore replied.)

If only Al (Gore, that is *lol2004*) showed this side of himself during Election 2000 we would have a booming economy and world peace.

Isn't it baffling that some people thought Gore was stiff? Heck, he carried Franken in that comedy bit.

"We're really sorry, Al," Mr. Moore mumbled. Mr. Gore paused for a beat, then asked, "For what, Michael?" Mr. Moore then began a long, winding explanation of how he himself had not campaigned for Mr. Nader in swing states. Mr. Gore again paused, then added politely, "What are you saying?"

This is exactly the type of conservative bias I'm talking about -- Mr. Michael Moore long-winded?! I think not.

 

*must ... not ... break ... keyfabe ... no ... matter ... how ... hard ...*

Nah, not long-winded. I bet he was eating a Twinkie (a Twinkie MADE IN AMERICA, mind you) while talking and had to suppress a belch.

 

Like Bush suppresses evidence about 9/11, people who oppose his viewpoints, the economy...

For the kickoff, Mr. Franken invited some of his more famous friends to make call-in cameos; Ben Stein, a former speechwriter for President Richard M. Nixon, was one. The other was G. Gordon Liddy of Watergate fame. They did not bring great material with them.

See? This is a Right-Wing plot to bring this network down. Show up and under-perform. Why did Al even bother to have these creatins on the air in the first place? I mean, couldn't they just go over to FAUX NEWS?!

FAUXNEWSLOL2004! wouldn't have the GUTS to have Liddy on the air.

-=Mike

...Giving out hugs like CANDY today

[Jobber of the Week 0]

This is exactly the type of conservative bias I'm talking about -- Mr. Michael Moore long-winded?! I think not.

 

*must ... not ... break ... keyfabe ... no ... matter ... how ... hard ...*

Michael Moore makes more wind than every cow in Wyoming. But that probably makes sense since I think he eats that much beef at the buffet every evening.

[Guest MikeSC]

UPDATE TIME:

After  just two weeks on the air, Air America Radio, the fledgling liberal talk-radio network featuring Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo, appears to have encountered serious cash-flow problems.

 

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE is developing a story, insiders tell DRUDGE, on how the network was pulled off the air this morning in Chicago and Los Angeles, the network's second- and third-largest markets, because, the owner of both stations said, the network bounced a check and owes him more than $1 million! A charge the network strongly denies...

 

A Chicago source familiar with the situation said a Multicultural representative showed up at WNTD's offices Wednesday morning, kicked out Air America's lone staffer overseeing the network's feed to the station from New York, switched over to a Spanish-language feed, and changed the locks on the doors...

 

Air America filed a complaint Wednesday in New York state Supreme Court charging Multicultural with breaching their contract and seeking an injunction to force Multicultural to restore the Air America broadcast on both stations, the TRIBUNE has learned... Developing...

http://drudgereport.com/

Well, that didn't take long.

-=Mike

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

So much for liberals wanting diversity.

 

You know, for as much money as this endeavor loses, I doubt the DNC will pull the plug -- too much pride at stake.

 

Of course, if they did cancel HOT-Air America (lol2004), it's not like Big Media would report on it...

[Guest Brian]

It's not like anybody cared enough in the first place.

[Guest MikeSC]

So much for liberals wanting diversity.

 

You know, for as much money as this endeavor loses, I doubt the DNC will pull the plug -- too much pride at stake.

 

Of course, if they did cancel HOT-Air America (lol2004), it's not like Big Media would report on it...

What I don't get is ---

 

What jurisdiction does a NY court --- even a federal district court --- have over Chicago over LA? They wouldn't be in the same district.

-=Mike

[Jobber of the Week 0]

http://www.airamericaradio.com/pub/resNews.htm

 

The Sludge Report

 

After just two weeks on the air, Air America Radio, the fledgling liberal talk-radio network featuring Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, and that really loud woman from Florida, appears to have encountered serious cash-flow problems.

 

Stop the presses!!! There’s nothing more exciting than half a story from a third hand source!!!!

 

Insiders tell SLUDGE, that the reason the network was pulled off the air this morning in Chicago and Los Angeles, the network's second- and third-largest markets, was because, the owner of both stations, Arthur Liu of Multicultural Broadcasting, said, the network bounced a check and owes him more than $1 million! The run-on sentence, tortured grammar and the exclamation point clearly means it’s true!!

 

Only it isn’t.

 

Normally we’d let this go because “habitual liars” like Drudge are laughable, and ridicule is our business.

 

But  Arthur Liu --- not funny. He lied to us, he ripped us off and now we’re chasing him down with a pipe wrench. It’s a metaphor.

 

Here’s what really happened:

 

This Liu-ser was ripping off our boss Evan Cohen big time (he can’t do that, that’s our job). Evan found out about it and he stopped payment on a check to keep Liu-cifer from ripping him off even more. You can touch Evan for the occasional meal or drinks but a million bucks is crossing the line. And if we ever get low on cash, we can always call Barbra Streisand. Or any of the Baldwins. Except Stephen.

 

So we got screwed, Liu’d, and tattooed. How Liu can you get? In Liu of payment. Liu’d and lascivious behavior. These write themselves. What we’re getting at is that we hate him.

 

So now everyone’s saying we’re going down the dumper in Chicago and Los Angeles, but what they don’t tell you is that we’re still on in Portland. And we OWN Portland. And let’s not forget Riverside and Plattsburgh. And New York.  And streaming on the internet. And XM. And Sirius. Actually we’re fine.

 

So cool your jets. Air America Radio isn’t dead, we’re in court and we’re going to slam Liu’s head in a car door. Another metaphor. We hope to be back on the air tomorrow or the next day in those markets.

 

In the meantime, why don’t you give Arthur a call at (212)966-1059.

 

Arthur Liu, I wouldn’t show your face around here.

 

Or Riverside. Or Plattsburgh.

 

DEVELOPING……

.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Well, if they were REALLY liberals (although this is sounding more and more like Bush everyday) they'd give Liu even more money to fix the problem...

[MrRant 0]

Was that supposed to be funny?

 

Franken wrote it didn't he?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Was that supposed to be funny?

 

Franken wrote it didn't he?

Well I don't know about you, hippie, but I was rolling on the floor laughing my ass off at that news release, and I will probably not get up from off the floor until 2005.

 

and we’re going to slam Liu’s head in a car door

 

Seeing how Franken bullies people at campaign stops, I believe Al wrote this...

[MrRant 0]

Well I don't know about you, hippie, but I was rolling on the floor laughing my ass off at that news release, and I will probably not get up from off the floor until 2005.

Figures... with your "liberal" degree.

 

 

Bitch.

 

 

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Well I don't know about you, hippie, but I was rolling on the floor laughing my ass off at that news release, and I will probably not get up from off the floor until 2005.

Figures... with your "liberal" degree.

And is it any surprise that I was the most hated student in my major's department of studies?...

[MrRant 0]

Compound that suprise with the fact that someone wants to marry your ass.

 

It's enough to blow your mind.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Compound that suprise with the fact that someone wants to marry your ass.

 

It's enough to blow your mind.

Compound those surprises with the fact that you have brought a life into this world and I need duct tape to keep my head from being splattered all over the ceiling...

[Vyce 0]

On the show, Mr. Franken pretended to lock an irate Ms. Coulter, impersonated by the actress Bebe Neuwirth, in the green room.

 

Good lord, is he doing bits on the show???

[Guest MikeSC]

http://www.airamericaradio.com/pub/resNews.htm

 

The Sludge Report

 

After just two weeks on the air, Air America Radio, the fledgling liberal talk-radio network featuring Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, and that really loud woman from Florida, appears to have encountered serious cash-flow problems.

 

Stop the presses!!! There’s nothing more exciting than half a story from a third hand source!!!!

 

Insiders tell SLUDGE, that the reason the network was pulled off the air this morning in Chicago and Los Angeles, the network's second- and third-largest markets, was because, the owner of both stations, Arthur Liu of Multicultural Broadcasting, said, the network bounced a check and owes him more than $1 million! The run-on sentence, tortured grammar and the exclamation point clearly means it’s true!!

 

Only it isn’t.

 

Normally we’d let this go because “habitual liars” like Drudge are laughable, and ridicule is our business.

 

But  Arthur Liu --- not funny. He lied to us, he ripped us off and now we’re chasing him down with a pipe wrench. It’s a metaphor.

 

Here’s what really happened:

 

This Liu-ser was ripping off our boss Evan Cohen big time (he can’t do that, that’s our job). Evan found out about it and he stopped payment on a check to keep Liu-cifer from ripping him off even more. You can touch Evan for the occasional meal or drinks but a million bucks is crossing the line. And if we ever get low on cash, we can always call Barbra Streisand. Or any of the Baldwins. Except Stephen.

 

So we got screwed, Liu’d, and tattooed. How Liu can you get? In Liu of payment. Liu’d and lascivious behavior. These write themselves. What we’re getting at is that we hate him.

 

So now everyone’s saying we’re going down the dumper in Chicago and Los Angeles, but what they don’t tell you is that we’re still on in Portland. And we OWN Portland. And let’s not forget Riverside and Plattsburgh. And New York.  And streaming on the internet. And XM. And Sirius. Actually we’re fine.

 

So cool your jets. Air America Radio isn’t dead, we’re in court and we’re going to slam Liu’s head in a car door. Another metaphor. We hope to be back on the air tomorrow or the next day in those markets.

 

In the meantime, why don’t you give Arthur a call at (212)966-1059.

 

Arthur Liu, I wouldn’t show your face around here.

 

Or Riverside. Or Plattsburgh.

 

DEVELOPING……

.

Wow, they really ARE desperate.

-=Mike

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

("Air America is going down down down!")

 

note: they just added seven stations

 

KSQR (1240 AM) IN SACRAMENTO, CA

WMTW (870 AM) IN PORTLAND, ME

KBZC (1300 AM) IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

WJNO (1290 AM) IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL

WTWK (1070 AM) IN PLATTSBURGH, NY & BURLINGTON, VT

WKIZ (1500 AM) IN KEY WEST, FL

WCHL (1360 AM) In Chapel Hill, NC

 

("Oh..")

[Guest thebigjig]

AirAmerica could be the most entertaining and informative radio station on the air and conservatives would still mock it and call them desperate and unfunny, simply because its a station that doesnt play to their interests

 

and I dont care what anyone says about Al Franken. Franken has more comedic wit than any of you could ever possibly hope to have

[MrRant 0]

They need a catchy slogan.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

"Air America: Don't be left behind!"

 

*Next day on Drudge*

 

"TIM LaHAYE SUES AIR AMERICA. WILL AIR AMERICA GO BANKRUPT?"

[Vyce 0]

AirAmerica could be the most entertaining and informative radio station on the air and conservatives would still mock it and call them desperate and unfunny, simply because its a station that doesnt play to their interests

Is this supposed to be some great revelation?

 

The same could be said of liberals about conservative programming. Liberals mock conservative talk show hosts all the time, viciously. Is it deserved? Who knows? Who cares?

 

Each political persuasion denegrates the other side's media.

[Vern Gagne 0]

and I dont care what anyone says about Al Franken. Franken has more comedic wit than any of you could ever possibly hope to have

So what. That doesn't mean it carries over to radio.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

AirAmerica could be the most entertaining and informative radio station on the air and conservatives would still mock it and call them desperate and unfunny, simply because its a station that doesnt play to their interests.

If it was the most entertaining and informative radion network out there it wouldn't be an arm of the Democrat Party. Now if all Hot-Air America (lol2004) did was play Ted Kennedy sound bites, then we would be onto something.

 

I dont care what anyone says about Al Franken. Franken has more comedic wit than any of you could ever possibly hope to have.

 

And you're assuming we care what you think about Franken's and his comedic sh- err, wit.

 

That's the great thing about comedy -- it's so subjective...

[Guest MikeSC]

AirAmerica could be the most entertaining and informative radio station on the air and conservatives would still mock it and call them desperate and unfunny, simply because its a station that doesnt play to their interests

Fortunately, it's lack of comedic value and the fact that is so blatantly beholden to the Democratic Party (may I direct your attention to the attack on Ralph Nader?) just show its uselessness. As does the attempt at humor in its "reply" to that Liu fellow (Liu-ser? COMIC GOLD!)

and I dont care what anyone says about Al Franken. Franken has more comedic wit than any of you could ever possibly hope to have

Too bad his show is so devoid of said comedic wit.

-=Mike

[Guest thebigjig]

Yes, because his humor is aiming at conservatives and bashing Bush... therefor, you would not find it funny

 

Oh, but that Dubyah and his weapons of mass destruction jokes! HI-LARIOUS!! *slaps knee*

[Guest MikeSC]

Yes, because his humor is aiming at conservatives and bashing Bush... therefor, you would not find it funny

 

Oh, but that Dubyah and his weapons of mass destruction jokes! HI-LARIOUS!! *slaps knee*

It's sad when Franken's jokes have to be compared to Bush's bad jokes to make them look less bad.

 

Al's show is not funny or original. Heck, Jonah Goldberg's comment on the pleasure he feels at Franken's failures ("Frankenfreude") is funnier and more original than anything Al has done on his show.

 

Heck, he can't even mock Bill O'Reilly all that well --- and he's EASY to mock.

-=Mike