Stuffing The Box For Franken
Is there any question that Minnesota’s returns will continue to be “adjusted” until enough votes appear to push Al Franken ahead of Norm Coleman? This is classic ballot-stuffing.
6 comments November 7th, 2008
Posts with the tag 'Al Franken'
Silver Lining: Coleman Beats Al Franken
With 100 percent of the votes counted, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) has beaten former Air America host / alleged comedian Al Franken by 600.
Franken’s final hope is in the recount.
Memo to Dems: next time, pump up the ballot stuffing just a bit more.
2 comments November 5th, 2008
Oliphant Gets LA Tryout
Here’s something I didn’t see coming: Globie-For-Life Thomas Oliphant has been trying out as a talk host on Clear Channel’s long-troubled libtalk station KTLK / Los Angeles. This news is via industry trade publication All Access, so no direct link is available.
Oliphant was a regular guest on the now- kaput Al Franken Show and if he’s anywhere near as dry and dull, it’ll make NPR sound exciting.
Apparently, he’s recovered from health problems that sidelined him a few years ago.
3 comments January 14th, 2008
Let’s Hope Joe’s A No Go
Based on the Boston-area media buzz, including from our own readers, it appears most believe Joe Scarborough will fill WTKK-FM’s post-Imus morning void.
The speculation is largely fueled by newspaper reports indicating Scarborough’s deal to take over MSNBC’s morning show is just about complete. In addition, a radio simulcast syndicated by CBS also seems likely.
But other reports also have Imus resurfacing at WFAN, which would make him once again available for WTKK and other stations to grab.
While my contention has been that WTKK still has a great love for Imus, others believe the station will start fresh and go with “Morning Joe”.
Though neither host would be a smart choice for WTKK, the case against Scarborough is actually quite a bit stronger. Consider these points:
– Though most have forgotten this, Joe has already failed miserably in radio syndication, just two short years ago.
– Scarborough is not a seasoned radio broadcaster ready for morning drive. For all of his huge flaws, Imus at least has a feel for the medium.
– Joe’s MSNBC ratings have been particularly lackluster, with no real constituency feeling loyal to his program. Conservatives dislike him, while liberals pretty much ignore him. Neither camp spends much time listening.
– Scarborough has a creepy side, one which has become increasingly apparent in recent times. His degrading comments about Jeri Thompson were only the tip of the iceberg and his outbursts (particularly against women) have provided a lot of fodder for the Radio Equalizer.
– In addition, Joe has in the past stepped way over the ethical line on his show, with past ties to fishy Air America Radio backer / infamous Florida trial lawyer Mike Papantonio causing problems.
– He also has a history of shoddy prep work causing on-air embarrassment, including the now-infamous Arnold Schwarzenegger/”blow up the moon” flap, for which he resisted issuing an apology. My Radio Equalizer post on the subject remains one of the site’s most popular since its inception.
– Because he really isn’t terribly bright, Scarborough has often relied on overly simplistic topics and positions. His widely-criticized “Is Bush Stupid?” episode comes to mind.
– Scarborough has a dreadful, Larry King-approach to dealing with many of his guests, especially political and entertainment industry figures who could use a tough question or two. Even worse, he has allowed Al Franken and others to push crazy conspiracy theories without much of a challenge.
Scarborough has so much baggage that I’m probably forgetting a number of his past flaps. To sum it up, Joe brings creepiness, unethical behavior, mean-spirited comments against people who don’t deserve them, shoddy prep work and a poor ratings track record to talk radio.
Sound good to you?
Though I’ve said WTKK would be far better off developing a hit local morning show, if forced to choose, I’d select Imus in a heartbeat over “Morning Joe”. Despite the mumbling, advancing age and general weirdness, he at least has some sense of how to host a program, unlike Scarborough.
But that sure isn’t much of a choice, is it?
11 comments July 3rd, 2007
The Publicity Trap
If you’re one of WRKO’s managers, the Tom Finneran “deal” must look wonderful right now.
After all, Boston’s news media outlets are tripping over one another to get the latest details on Boston’s political Felon du Jour and his impending radio gig.
And a couple of the columnists at local dailies are sure Finneran will be a hit. Meanwhile, their car radios are locked in on NPR for the drive home from Boston.
How can all of that Finneran publicity do anything but help WRKO?
In a nutshell, this is why talk radio stations occasionally fall into the publicity trap. It’s the same mentality that brought Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo to Air America.
The day Finneran kicks off his first show, the Globe can be counted on to be in studio to chronicle his initial moments on the air. Ditto for Channels 5, 7 and 25. Isn’t it great?
Beyond those first days, however, Finneran’s talk gig will become old news and local media outlets will get bored, moving on to the next topic.
At the same time, Finneran’s lack of real on-air experience will begin to show after these initial programs. While many people, politicians in particular, have one or two decent shows in them, keeping it going beyond that is the downfall of almost all of them in this medium.
The truth is that it takes years to learn how to do talk radio correctly and beyond that, it’s necessary to have a basic level of talent that most wonkish politicians don’t possess.
And worse, someone with Finneran’s sheer level of arrogance and thin skin isn’t used to dealing with people who disagree with him. In fact, this could very well become a show that simply can’t take calls, given that Tom would be forced to lower himself to the level of the little people.
As a result, after a one-month ratings spike as people tune in out of curiousity, the sad reality will kick in: there isn’t a constituency for a Finneran talk show and there never was.
Experienced talk radio programmers know all of this, but Julie Kahn does not.
ELSEWHERE: my Radio Equalizer site will be down until sometime after noon today.
3 comments January 9th, 2007
