Radio talk-show hosts are watching the launch of Air America with a combination of professional interest, mild encouragement and a big dollop of skepticism.
All talk is good talk, says Mancow Muller, Q101’s savvy shock jock, and he wishes the liberal network well.
“This is always good for speech in America when both sides duke it out,” he said. “I hope it does happen because I really believe that open discourse is important.”
But that said, Mancow predicts Air America is unlikely to take off like the popular conservative shows with hosts Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage.
“They haven’t been very popular in the past. There’s a reason that shows like Rush and Savage and others are huge. … That audience, a right-wing audience spends money, they buy the books, and they support the host, but there hasn’t been that kind of following and fervor around a liberal talk-show host.”
Plus, Mancow has his doubts about the network’s entertainment potential, including Al Franken, who will host Air America’s cornerstone program, “The O’Franken Factor.”
“I’ve interviewed Al Franken. He’s not funny, not on the radio,” he said.
Then there’s the challenge of a daily program, adds longtime local radio host Steve Dahl. His show airs for five hours each weekday on WCKG-FM 105.9.
“It’s different than doing stand-up, a weekly TV show or even a daily one-hour TV show. The hours really add up,” Dahl said.
As expected, TV and radio personality Bill O’Reilly–who faced off with Franken during a televised book talk last year that caused a public firestorm–slammed the budding radio network on his TV show Monday.
“This whole liberal network scheme is just plain stupid,” he said. “NPR fills that prescription, and they do it very well. These pinheads backing the venture will lose millions of dollars because the propaganda network is simply tedious, and tedious doesn’t sell.”
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When entertainment meets politics
Which of these comes closer to your opinion about Hollywood celebrities and politics?
54% They can offer a new perspective on political issues and should get involved in politics if they choose.
38% They are inexperienced about political issues and should stay out of politics.
8% Don’t know/no opinion.
SOURCE: CBS NEWS POLL OF 798 ADULTS CONDUCTED AUG. 11-12, 2003; MARGIN OF ERROR IS +/- 4 PERCENTAGE POINTS
