Al Franken to leave Air America on December 10?

[clbuck]

http://whatamockery.com/2006/11/al-franken-leaving-air-america-in.html

Folks, I got this directly from 960 AM KQKE (The Quake) in San Francisco.

According to John Scott of KQKE, Al Franken will leave Air America December 10.

I will try to have a clip available soon, but it's pretty much official as I mentioned earlier on the blog.

UPDATE Nov. 15, 2006:

I finally got around to tracking down and extracting the radio segment here:
http://whatamockery.com/al_franken_leaving_dec_10.mp3">John Scott talks about Al Franken Leaving Air America on the Nov. 6 edition of the "Progressive News Hour" (Click for MP3)

There's no offical Franken or Air America announcement for this yet, but that explains why The Quake replaced Franken with Thom Hartmann.

[BuyingThyme]

1. Dec. 8th.

[lisa58]

2. I guess he's running for the Senate n/t

[clbuck]

3. Yeah, I guess the host and the blogger had the wrong date

Since December 10 is a Sunday. :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. I'll miss Al, but hopefully he's actually pursuing his

ambition to become a Senator from the great state of Minnesota. I think we all knew this coming, because even though Al has been pretty cagey when asked directly about his political ambition, he never says NO I'm not running.

As a side note, personally, I hope Sam Seder gets his timeslot, and the Young Turks move into Sam's old spot.

[clbuck]

5. Thom Hartmann's going to get Al's timeslot.

What's going to be interesting is what will happen with KPOJ's lineup.

Thom already does a 3-hour local show on that station from 6-9 AM PT. They currently air Franken at 9 AM, which is also the same time that Thom does his national show. If Air America gets rid of Franken, KPOJ will most likely get rid of his local show, since 6 consecutive hours of Thom will be too much.

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. I don't think AAR is "getting rid of Franken"....

I think we've all known for quite some time that Al was more than interested in making a Senate run. So, I don't think he's being pushed out.

However, Congrats to Tom if he takes Al's timeslot.

[zippy890]

6. Thom Hartman would be great! (I 'll miss Al)

I think this would be great, Hartman is fantastic.

And as much as I like Al, he's been sounding a bit tired lately.

[wryter2000]

8. Right on both counts

No one else has Hartman's knowledge of history.

I'm astounded to say it, but I think the show really needed Lanpher or some other strong foil for Al. I'm so going to miss him. If he goes to the Senate, I hope he continues to crack wise.

[wryter2000]

7. I think AAR owes him money

I know there are Franken haters at DU. (None in this thread that I can see.) I honestly think that if it weren't for his celebrity (and Janean's) the network would never have gotten off the ground. We all knew Randi from her Florida days, but most people in the country didn't. The SF paper called her "Randi Rose" in their initial article about AAR. AAR and the whole concept of liberal radio only got attention because of the celebrities.

[undeterred]

22. I don't hate him but it sounds like he was seriously overpaid

AAR is pretty new and unstable to be paying anyone a million dollar salary.

[madfloridian]

9. Does that mean XM will put Hartmann in that slot?

I like Thom Hartmann.

[clbuck]

11. Yes

If Thom replaces Franken on the official Air America lineup, which is what XM airs.

[GreenTea]

10. I always hit Thom Hartmann "listen" link on Air America Radio site - Hartmann

would be a great choice for that time slot (and much cheaper than the hugely over paid Franken).

Hartmann would also be a great lead-in to the always interesting Randi Rhodes show!

[Epiphany4z]

12. kewl deal

I like Al ..but truly the best part of his show is the guests..I can live without most of his comedy skits...

It will be an interesting race when Al runs...lol just thinking of all of his words they can twist ..and act like they don't get the joke on....

[Jane Austin]

14. My favorite hour of the week is

the third hour on Thusdays with Tom Oliphant.

I could listen to him all day. He seems to have remembered everthing he ever heard or saw in his thirty years in Washington and he always cuts to the meat of the matter at hand no matter what the question is.

[wryter2000]

23. I must admit

My favorite few minutes on all of AAR is Wait, Wait, Don't Lie to Me. The callers tend to be very entertaining.

[geiger]

28. they need to compile the transcripts and write a book

what a loss this will be

[stevedeshazer]

39. Tom Oliphant is a national treasure.

I love that guy.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. Maybe to run for a Senate seat? n/t

[Ian David]

16. Maybe he's going to concentrate on his singing career? n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

17. Al's show hasn't been good since Katherine left.

Throughout his career, Al has been strongest either in troupe (Second City, SNL) or team (Franken & Davis) comedy, where he has people to play off of, and to deliver straight lines to him.

Katherine was the perfect foil for him. Think of "Mastication Theater," or "The Oy Oy Oy Show," or whenever he would have that Republican Stripper on. Katherine made the humor there, Al just responded to it.

The sad note is that this pretty much marks the end of the original Air America concept of "politics, with a taste of humor." Morning Sedition, Al, and the Majority Report were the original vision for AAR and a lot of what got it attention early on. Now they're all gone. Now it's more or less your typical talk network, but with liberals.

[ariellyn]

18. Good. nt

[Leopolds Ghost]

19. What A Bunch of Crap. Doesn't he realize how much he could help AAR

-- And his own Senate campaign -- if he kept his show, while running for Senate?

Everyone knows AAR is partisan. There'd be no objection...

I mean, for god's sake.

[Rosco T.]

21. He can't stay on the air while running....

election commission rules

[Connie_Corleone]

24. You can't run for office and be a radio talk show host at the same time.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

20. He has another USO tour coming up

But I won't take Scott's word on a permanent departure. I'll wait to hear it from Franken.

[MiniMe]

25. I think he wanted Norm Coleman's seat all along

That is one reason he moved back to Minnesota. Paybacks are hell Norm.

[Jane Austin]

26. I think he doesn't want Norm Coleman defiling the sainted Paul

Wellstone's seat.

Al was close to and adored Paul and Sheila.

[MiniMe]

27. I reread my post, and I didn't get my point across, you did, thanks

I meant to get across that he wanted to win the seat back for Wellstone, kind of like a tribute. I think it just burns his butt to see Coleman in Wellstone's seat. I also think he would make a good Senator fwiw.

[KharmaTrain]

29. Another Death Knell For Air America

Industry word says that AAR will be gone by the end of the year...and stations, especially Clear Channel ones, are making changes now in anticipation of those changes.

The question soon will be about Randi's future...

[LTR]

31. AAR is on the selling block

They should be announcing a buyer or announcing their future plans within a week or so.

Likely, it will be a buyer, as there have been a few that have shown interest.

[KharmaTrain]

32. Have A Link?

I know they're looking for a buyer, but I haven't seen any information that says there is someone in the wings...and I'm regularly checking the radio boards where that kind of info leaks.

Interest doesn't mean cash. I've worked on many radio projects where there was tons of interest but precious little money. It also keeps peace in the family...preventing people from bailing out or advertisers from cancelling contracts.

If you have a link of a specific buyer, I'd be very interested in seeing it.

[LTR]

35. Here's a good place to start

I've been keeping track myself. For starters...

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/10/air-america-radio-in-talks-with-suitors.html

http://ltradio.blogspot.com/2006/10/air-america-radio-files-chapter-11.html

I'm digging through more of my archives. I do know that they claimed that they were talking with seven different parties. Two include Shel Drobny (reportedly no longer interested after offering $2.5 million and assumption of all debts) and ex-Clear Channel exec Randy Michaels, who's company, P1, owns the Ed Schultz show. Tom Athans is another name I've heard floating around. Other buyers are mere speculation, but I'd expect that there's probably a few current investors who'd like to take over.

And the boards (Radio Info, etc.) aren't usually up on a lot of stuff. Many of its members are just idiots repeating stuff they saw on Radio Equalizer's site. And we all know he's full of shit, right?

[KharmaTrain]

37. Your Info Is Old...

I'm was referring to the commercial radio boards like insideradio and all accesss. Yes, Radio-info (and my buddy founded the site) is a fan site...not a profesional one.

What you were citing was put out there in days after the Bankruptcy was announced. The Drobnys are now involved with NovaM and Michaels is invovled with the new Progressive network that Jones is hoping will replace AAR...and will find homes on CC stations (the ones that remain).

The problem is whomever would buy out or bail out the network will have to invest a bunch of their own money above any sale price to shore things up, then even more to build things up. With the radio market as depressed as it is right now, a stand-alone small network has overwhelming odds against it. I've commented many times that AAR is a success as it survived as long as it did and proved that Progressive Talk radio was a viable format. Now it's up to others to move the ball further.

I haven't seen a word on their status now for several weeks and just did a check with contacts I have and they haven't either. The consensus is that the network will lose affiliates (which is happening) and finally close down.

Again, if you find additional or recent info, please let me know...I'm just passing along info from sources I consider highly reliable and know many of the principals involved.

[clbuck]

30. kick

:kick:

[let us vote]

33. How about bring back Mike Malloy?

[bamacrat]

34. Senator Franken, that sounds nice

[MODemocrat]

36. Sure hope he runs for the Senate

Wouldn't this be a little early for him to announce?

[Maat]

38. I've had my "ups and downs" in terms of my enthusiasm for Al ..

on the radio; however, I'm thrilled with him running for the Senate (in Paul Wellstones' name, really).

I'll be one of the first to contribute to the campaign. He'd make a great Senator; but, he'd be honest, and refuse to 'play ball.' I'd be praying for his safety, for sure.

On edit:
I just saw Al SLAY Fund on Hardball; that was worth a BIG donation (at least 'big' in terms of our budget for such things .. but BIG)!