AAR replacing Rhodes with fill-ins: Rosie O'Donnell, Fran Drescher and Phil Donahue (no joke)

[LTR]

:wtf:

First, they let Randi Rhodes slip away to the competition. And now they've got a big hole in their schedule to fill. And they plan to do it with celebrity hosts.

First up is Richard Belzer. Belzer is cool, though I thought they were shying away from stand-up comedians with raunchy stage acts - Belzer puts Randi to shame on stage and then some. He gets downright rude! I actually wouldn't mind checking out his radio stint. His political rants are guaranteed to make a few jaws drop. He kicks ass on "Real Time."

But other future fill-in hosts will allegedly include Rosie O'Donnell, Fran Drescher and Phil Donahue. Rosie O'Donnell? Fran Drescher? YIIIIIIIKES!!! Are they trying to get people not to listen? That sounds like what they use at GITMO to extract confessions out of terror suspects! Isn't that against the Geneva Convention?

Again, I am not making this up. Just when I thought AAR couldn't screw things up more than they already have, they come back and completely surprise me. Unbelievable!

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2008/04/developing-rumor-rhodes-to-nova-m.html
http://origin.denverpost.com/entertainment_old/ci_8880958

[SeattleGirl]

1. Belzer and Donohue I could listen to.

They have a lot to say about the "state of the nation", I think.

Not sure about O'Donnell and Drescher though.

[LTR]

6. I could kinda hang with Phil

But you'd have to put a gun to my head to make me listen to Rosie. And I'd probably say "pull the trigger!"

The thought of "The Nanny" doing radio quite frankly scares the hell out of me. That sounds like a potential audio train wreck.

[SeattleGirl]

12. In fairness to Fran, I have heard her on a couple of shows,

and she's not QUITE "The Nanny", and she is a great advocate for cancer research.

Having said that however, I don't know that I could listen to her for 3 straight hours.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

44. When Belzer appears on Real Time, he is almost as informed as most DUers.

I think Phil Donohue will be awake to some things but not to all.

[Breeze54]

2. Fran Drescher? O.M.G.

:wtf:

I like Phil Donahue (no joke) ;)

[newmajority]

3. Fran Drescher?? Oh Geezus....

Who the HELL is going to listen to that annoying voice for three hours?

(Not me, I'll be listening to Randi on Nova M! )

[slampoet]

30. You posted exactly what i was going to post.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Should we start the death watch?

Donahue is the only one I'd even consider...

[lapfog_1]

5. I think that's why you heard Sam Seder

sign off today the way he did. Plus he was much more forceful today than in the past that he is for Obama. Pretty sure that IF NovaM made any kind of reasonable offer for him, tomorrow will be his last day at AAR.

[Jane Austin]

7. Don't know about the others, but Fran Drescher is an

ardent HRC supporter.

[lapfog_1]

9. First time she laughs on the radio

and my whole 'puter will simply explode into a million pieces... better off never picking up the AAR stream again just on the off chance they run a promo for her show.

[shellgame26]

11. Fran Drescher is a total Hillary shill

and not a very bright one at that. She made a complete ass of herself on Larry King several weeks ago. She's been looking for work for a while.

[SeattleGirl]

8. I'd love tosee both Sam and Rachel go to NovaM.

I really enjoy listening to both of them, and having them joining Randi and Mike would be great.

[chknltl]

10. New AM 1090 ad by Randi says we will be getting the switchover

I heard it twice yesterday. The first time was at the normal startup for the now canceled Randi Rhodes Show. Randi's ad said that she has moved to Nova M. I think that I may have heard her say AM 1090 will be broadcasting the show in her old time-slot starting this Monday!
TacomaGuy (aka chknltl)

[SeattleGirl]

13. That's what I heard too.

Hoo-rah for Randi!

I'm so glad she will be back on the air.

I've really missed her.

[otohara]

40. There Are Only So Many Hours In A Day

So what if Sam & Rachel go to Nova. Problem is, many of the stations are Clear Channel - you got Ed Schultz, Randi taking up 6 hours, most likely 10am to 4PM. Many have dumped the smartest guy at AAR, Thom Hartman or put him on at a later time as in my city. Clear Channel likes to have someone local on in the 6-10AM slot, and 4-7PM in drive-time. Sam will be back, but I don't know where they will stick him, maybe after Rachel who is 7-10PM.

They could get rid of the local 4-7PM guy, but then he'll get fired. There's no way, they would dump the early AM guy.

So you see, all this talk of Sam and others from AAR going to the tiny NovaM is useless. They may get there, but will have no homes on affiliate stations.

[bdamomma]

22. poor Sam, I really like him and he's not being treated

well at all.

[johnnydrama]

14. Rachel should get

maybe a weekly show on Nova M if she gets a full time MSNBC gig.

[whirlygigspin]

15. the rain in spain...

maybe they can get Al Franken, Fran Dresher, Al Green and Jerry Springer all lined up and change the name of the network to "voices that make your ears bleed radio"

oy, is Jacky Mason busy?

[KharmaTrain]

16. Interesting Post On The WCPT Chicago Website...

http://www.wcpt820.com/news/view?articleID=78

Chicago (April 10, 2008) — Many of you know that Randi Rhodes has been off the air on WCPT for the past week and today, Randi Rhodes has chosen to terminate her relationship with Air America.

While WCPT is a network affiliate of Air America, we were not involved in their decision to suspend Randi, nor were we a part of the discussions which led to Randi terminating her relationship with Air America. However, WCPT is very much involved in putting out the best Progressive Talk station for Chicago and as such, we are in the process of deciding on a new line-up for the station. As the situation with Randi has developed over the last two weeks, we have received passionate feedback from our listeners both in support of Randi as well as in support of Air America’s moves. It is this passion which drives the station and without it, we would not be able to succeed.

For now, we ask you to please bear with us as we take the time to determine the very best lineup. We acknowledge that whichever path we choose to take, some segment of our audience may not agree with us right off the bat, but rest assured whatever we do will stay true to our ideals of offering the very best Progressive Talk programming. Progressive talk radio has come a long way since it first launched a few years ago and we’re in a fortunate position that our options have greatly expanded in such a short time.

We certainly regret that this situation happened, but now that it has, we are going to do our best to take this opportunity to build an even better WCPT. We appreciate the feedback that we have received and are fortunate to have listeners who are so engaged in “their” station.

There was "scuttlebutt" in these here parts that the owners of WCPT...who are big Hillary supporters and friends of the Greens pushed for the suspension. How will they play this? It could be an indication of AAR's fate.

[LTR]

17. WCPT is owned by Fred Eychaner

He's one of the Democratic fatcats who offered to fund a new Michigan primary.

And yes, he's a Hillary supporter.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-michigan20mar20,1,2478056.story

[Edgewater_Joe]

26. It May Be Moot In A Month

If Obama holds down Hillary in PA and then wipes the floor with her in NC (likely) and wins in IN (possible), Hillary's done and then they won't have to fear The Wrath of Hillary.

And Randi will be back on 820.

[JoDog]

18. Let me know when Phil's on

So I can listen and write a glowing letter to national AAR and WCPT in Chicago. The rest, I'll miss.

At least Phil has a solid background as a journalist/interviewer. The rest are actors/comedians, and AAR already has plenty of those on the line-up. Donahue could give the network some extra credibility and gravitas. Of course, I would love it if WCPT would pick up the Racheal Maddow show in the time slot.

[Ganja Ninja]

19. Firing Randi Rhodes is going to hurt AAR more than it will hurt

Randi. Lets face it their programming has gone downhill from their first day on the air. Morning Sedition, Mike Malloy, Sam Seder, Al Franken all gone or in the case of Seder almost gone. Replaced with the likes of Lionel and Armstrong Williams no less! I haven't listened to them in at least 2 years.

[otohara]

35. Since It Was Rhodes Who Will Have Lost Hillary Supporters

as listeners, tell me again how this is the fault of AAR, who didn't fire Ms. Rhodes? How is it, Rhodes is completely free of any responsibility of this fiasco?

BTW Al Franken left to run for senate, how is this the fault of AAR?

[mirrera]

20. Rosie actually knows her stuff.

I listened to the view when she was on and she was great. You may not agree, but don't assume that she is so easily dismissed. Phil Donahue is an important voice for progressives. He was the first casualty of Bush's nationalistic fever. He has just produced an incredible documentary called Body of War. I have never heard Fran Dresser's views, but I do not summarily dismiss women with squeaky New York accents. I have many relatives in Brooklyn where my father was born, and I tend to listen to what they say, not their accents.

As for anyone being a Hillary "shill", I am a firm Barack Obama supporter and I am incredibly pissed at Hillary's poor judgement, but her supporters are just as passionate about her as I am about Obama. Plenty of the talk show hosts support Obama, in fact most of them. In my opinion they are not "shilling", they are just smart and that is why I listen to those hosts. It is harder and harder for Hillary supporters to find talk show hosts that are willing to overlook Hillary's impending loss and shady campaign practices. When they find that person —maybe it will be Fran— I am sure they will think that they have found the smarter host. So it goes.

Personally I am happy because when the young turks left the morning slot of Air America, I moved to their web site from 7-9. When Seder was replaced with Lionel, I moved to Nova streaming from Pheonix for Stephanie Miller, stayed there for Thom Hartmann, and had to switch back to Air America for Randi. Now i can stay on the same stream while I work and just switch back for Maddow.

I will definitely check in to hear from the people Air America tries, for the sake of open mindedness and diversity.

[LTR]

21. Rosie's an insane drama queen

She's more into whoring herself to the media and creating personal circus sideshows than making ideological points.

I found her annoying when she was just an obnoxious comedian on VH1 and a bad actress who hung out with Madonna.

Sorry for the harsh words, but Rosie to me is like fingernails on a chalkboard. Oh wait - I can actually tolerate that.

[mirrera]

29. That is what is so great about human beings. I see her totally differently.

She is exactly my age and the stories she tells always resonate with me. She is of the total TV immersion generation like I am, and she has a ton of compassion. That is what is so great about the world, there is no truth. Just your truth and my truth and someone else's truth. I have to stick up for her because I really really like her. You don't have to, but for others who read your post, I just wanted a different voice to balance your character assessment.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. As a stand up

Rosie O'D is one of the funniest I have ever heard. I caught a set from her years ago that was hilarious and scathing. Although I like Belzer better overall, I have never seen him deliver a set that touched what Rosie did that night. Rosie and Belzer both have politics right up my ally, and fat loud mouths to speak their uncompromising minds.
I love people who diss a good liberal performer. It is always the same people who'd wet themselves if they had to speak in front of a crowd of 10, mocking a woman like Rosie who can tell off Bush in front of millions without flinching.

[otohara]

36. And Randi Rhodes Isn't

and insane drama queen? At least Rosie is a comedian vs the one who now claims to be.

[Dreamer Tatum]

38. Rosie is just simple-minded

...whereas Randi, as much as I disliked her, could carry thoughts through and create a show around them. Rosie is incapable of
thinking for herself...I wouldn't look for anything new from her.

[JSK]

32. Check out Rosie's site

www.rosie.com

Look at her recommended links. She is smart, informed and she is on our side. She is a mom of four, an artist and activist, and even if she doesn't obsess about politics 24/7, she knows what's going on and she isn't afraid to say so.

[susankh4]

23. They got me back!

I love all three!!

Way to go, AAR!

Hey... can you get Elton John too?

[olkaz]

25. wtf, I agree with you completely, that is really strange

But for completely different reasons, I'm sure.

[shaniqua6392]

24. Celebrity fill ins would be an awesome idea!!

I can not wait to hear them. It would be awesome for Phil Donahue to get the permanent slot though. I am not sure he wants something like that right now. I will be sure to listen and give feedback to AAR. I think this is a terrific move similar to what MSNBC did after they gave the boot to Imus. I really enjoyed seeing the different hosts and viewpoints. Thanks for letting us know about this. I had not heard anything about it!! I will be sure to spread the word.

[baldguy]

27. Phil deserves to be back on the air.

None of the current crop of RW airheads could hold a candle to him.

[Ilsa]

28. Because Fran Drescher has such a GREAT RADIO VOICE????

I know, she's a good woman and a wonderful liberal, from what I've seen. I really do like her, but I don't know how long I could listen unless she does something with that voice.

Belzer is sharp as a tack and a really cool guy. LOVE HIM. Would love to have him at dinner.

I Love Phil Donahue, but sometimes I think his arguments go off track. I love Rosie, but I get tired of her pretty quickly.

I am very happy that others have volunteered to step into the slot, but not because I like AAR.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. It's a step down for Phil

But I do applaud his voice returning to our air waves.

[mountainvue]

34. I love Richard Belzer. n/t

[otohara]

37. This is AWESOME News

are you kidding, everyone knows who Rosie O'Donnell, Fran Drescher, Phil Donahue are - vs Randi Rhodes.

Sounds to me as if the new owners of AAR know how to attract big name talent, and how is this a "screw up?

[Yukari Yakumo]

41. Because...

Rosie is a certifiable idiot. She's very much an attention whore who will say and do anything. Plus she actually believes the twoofers who still think WTC7 was an inside job. (Can you say "credibility down the toilet"?)

As for Fran... If anyone can survive 10 minutes of her without their eardrums rupturing, they'll have my respect.

[otohara]

42. Whatever You Say

If Rosie is an attention whore, what does that make Randi Rhodes? A tiny shrinking flower? Good grief, the woman would rather take down a network (if she could) and all of it's employees vs apologizing for her trash talk of Hillary Clinton. Blaming everyone but herself - everyone is out to get her. Never taking responsibility for her own actions.

Fran Drescher is famous because of her voice - at least Rosie & Fran are real comedians.

[ElkHunter]

39. I would rather walk on broken glass than listen to Rosie...

...but I would certainly welcome Phil Donahue being back on the air.

[Canuckistanian]

43. What's Pauly Shore doing these days?

I'm sure he'd like to take a shot at this.

[U4ikLefty]

45. My local station KTLK AM 1150 is putting Randi on again sans AAR.

Good for them.

I don't really care for Randi's style, but the way the tried to cut her throat was nasty.

Now Rachel Maddow is the only reason for me to listen to AAR.

[mitchtv]

46. Gosh ,an out Lesbian on the Radio

She might threaten our elections, can't have that.