D
D. R. Tucker
Guest
I admit this is a semi-nutty (or perhaps fully nutty) idea, but how about Kerry Healey as Howie Carr’s permanent replacement on WRKO?
Considering some of the folks who’ve landed roles at the station (I’m no longer as anti-Finneran as I was when he was initially brought on, but let’s face it, if ‘RKO is taking guys from YouTube to fill on-air positions, something is rotten in Denmark!) they could do worse than giving the failed 2006 gubernatorial contender a shot.
Bringing Healey on would generate far more controversy than Finneran’s hiring; Finneran was a divisive figure largely due to actions from years ago, whereas Healey is divisive due to things she did less than a year ago. Healey’s far more of a “love it or hate it” figure than Finneran; in fact, while she’s not as "questionable” a figure as Bernard McGuirk, she could provoke a similar level of outrage.
Not since John Silber in 1990 has a gubernatorial candidate been as despised as Healey—and while one normally wouldn’t recommend a supposedly universally hated figure for this sort of position, there’s a potential upside as well: she’d be embraced by those who feel that, on her worst day, she’d be a better chief executive than Gov. Patrick.
Healey’s articulate enough for the position, and her actions as a candidate are still fresh enough in the collective Bay State memory for her to whip people into a frenzy even before she utters a syllable on the airwaves. Her reputation was certainly damaged by last fall’s campaign, but I can’t imagine her image being so tarnished as to make it extraordinary difficult for ‘RKO to sell air time for her show.
At least in the early going, curiosity would be through the roof. Would she use her show as a forum to harshly criticize Gov. Patrick—or, perhaps, to distance herself from the Romney administration? Would she call for a return to “Weld/Cellucci Republicanism” in Massachusetts? Would she be able to show a warmer personality on the air? Coming across as a relaxed, human figure over the airwaves would certainly take care of Healey’s “Muffy” problem.
Healey certainly wouldn’t be an immediate savior for the station—but how could they go wrong with her? You’d have a well-known, highly controversial figure who’s certainly bright and knowledgeable, and would presumably have no problem luring high-profile guests (even Patrick would agree to appear on her show, no?). If one accepts the view that ‘RKO has hit rock-bottom because of Carr’s impending departure, then someone like Healey can only improve the station’s prospects. “Boston’s Talk Station” should think about it.
Or maybe not...
Considering some of the folks who’ve landed roles at the station (I’m no longer as anti-Finneran as I was when he was initially brought on, but let’s face it, if ‘RKO is taking guys from YouTube to fill on-air positions, something is rotten in Denmark!) they could do worse than giving the failed 2006 gubernatorial contender a shot.
Bringing Healey on would generate far more controversy than Finneran’s hiring; Finneran was a divisive figure largely due to actions from years ago, whereas Healey is divisive due to things she did less than a year ago. Healey’s far more of a “love it or hate it” figure than Finneran; in fact, while she’s not as "questionable” a figure as Bernard McGuirk, she could provoke a similar level of outrage.
Not since John Silber in 1990 has a gubernatorial candidate been as despised as Healey—and while one normally wouldn’t recommend a supposedly universally hated figure for this sort of position, there’s a potential upside as well: she’d be embraced by those who feel that, on her worst day, she’d be a better chief executive than Gov. Patrick.
Healey’s articulate enough for the position, and her actions as a candidate are still fresh enough in the collective Bay State memory for her to whip people into a frenzy even before she utters a syllable on the airwaves. Her reputation was certainly damaged by last fall’s campaign, but I can’t imagine her image being so tarnished as to make it extraordinary difficult for ‘RKO to sell air time for her show.
At least in the early going, curiosity would be through the roof. Would she use her show as a forum to harshly criticize Gov. Patrick—or, perhaps, to distance herself from the Romney administration? Would she call for a return to “Weld/Cellucci Republicanism” in Massachusetts? Would she be able to show a warmer personality on the air? Coming across as a relaxed, human figure over the airwaves would certainly take care of Healey’s “Muffy” problem.
Healey certainly wouldn’t be an immediate savior for the station—but how could they go wrong with her? You’d have a well-known, highly controversial figure who’s certainly bright and knowledgeable, and would presumably have no problem luring high-profile guests (even Patrick would agree to appear on her show, no?). If one accepts the view that ‘RKO has hit rock-bottom because of Carr’s impending departure, then someone like Healey can only improve the station’s prospects. “Boston’s Talk Station” should think about it.
Or maybe not...
