As a daily viewer of "Imus In The Morning", I agree with some of what's been posted, and take issue with other items.......
Sure...after decades, Imus is staying within his comfort zone, and, yes, some of the bits have become stale. I still find much of Rob Bartlett's work quite funny. Tony Powell can be funny.
But the main reason I watch the show is for Imus' interviews, especially when he gets lucky with a booking, like earlier this week with Fred Dicker the day after he became national news, or N.Y. Gov. Patterson in the midst of his scandal. Imus still asks more of the questions I would like answered than most interviewers, and he's not afraid to call out "B.S.!" when he senses a con job.
It should also be remembered that many of his most entertaining guests fled in April, 2007, never to return, and it has been difficult to find steady replacements. I thought when the Rev. Jesse Jackson phoned in to "Imus" on Martin Luther King's birthday to reflect, a notice of sentence served had been issued....but that wasn't the case.
The FBN simulcast is far superior than the trite, at times cheap look of the MSNBC effort - much less the product shown on RFD-TV.
The notion that FBN is saving tons of cash, however, doesn't make a lot of sense to me.....the show currently features two FBN anchors providing frequent live business updates during spot blocks as well as within the content, plus there's a full tech and stage crew operating. I don't see much savings.
But the one point I have to ask is this: does someone out there really think that Rush is so past his prime that he's outdated? While there may be some truth to the argument that Rush is not quite as fresh as he once was, he's a national focal point, a buzzword in and of himself. Sure...when you provide 90% or more of the content of three live hours five times a week, you're gonna have some weak spots or off days....but who else out there is bringing in his numbers?
Hell, even a Clear Channel in the midst of sucking all the profits out while deconstructing under its massive debt - a story some author should really explore, considering how so many of their stations were virtual money printing operations for years - thought it prudent to give Rush a huge extended contract to lock him up as long as possible.
Who's gonna replace him - Hannity? Nope.
What it all comes down to is this: Leave the old pro alone....if he bothers you, if his stuff isn't amusing or doesn't make you think, shut the damn radio off, kill the WABC stream.
And, a parting shot: many times, in this hypersensitive world of 2010, we think a comment is, or might be, "racist", when, in fact, it is "racial", or a reflection of perceptions. I do hope Imus brings back Dick Gregory and other social commentators to continue the dialog on racial issues in America that Imus pledged to explore upon his return to the airwaves. I'm certain that probably doesn't help his ratings a bit, but, in some ways, it goes back to what radio was supposed to do - serve in the public interest. Plus, Gregory can be a scream.
