"Indian" Bit on WIP Morning Show... Here We Go Again

[oaktree]

Sometimes, just because you "think" you can say something on the radio doesn't mean that, unexpectedly, you should.

The "turn the dial" mentality is wrong. If you aren't expecting a racial slur, an idiotic - not funny "Swoogies" song, or a stereotyped "bit" unfunny, why should it be my responsibility to "turn the dial?"

I have a right to be "offended," yes, but you have a right "not to" ... especially when you know the consequences on the public's airwaves, and not some Philly bar or nightclub.

So, if you want to hear the idiocy of "not funny" pay for satellite, where you're "entitled" to hear free speech raw and uncensored.

 

[PhillyWatch]

I like a lot of comedy. IMHO, this sucked. If you like the jokes contained within this programming, enjoy yourself.

If you identify with the 'angry (white) guy' programming, you may want to look inside a bit. Just a thought.

By the way, if you think I identify with 'hipster' or 'soccer mom' programming, read my posts elsewhere.

I'm not a killjoy or a tightass. But give me something that doesn't insult my intelligence.

I'M not saying the bit was funny- dothead joke, hee hee ho ho, no. And I'm not talking about racist humor, I'm talking "Hot Talk". I (am harping on this for the millionth time and beating this horse to a pulp) remember searching the AM dial in the months before "Free FM", looking for SOMETHING to listen to. I wanted something funny to listen to, but all that was available was politics or sports. What happened to WYSP filled that hole, and if it comes to something being racist, thats on the show. I don't laugh out loud every time someone drops a SLUR. Thats not what its about. But every time someone does, people don't need to get up in arms about it, not referring to message board discussion, but to those who flip their sht and go non stop with calls to the station and/or company.

And I wasn't referring to YOU at the end (though I knew it was gonna look that way, no idea how to fix it). Haha I know nothing about you. And I like how you bring up the intelligence factor. Why can't there be DUMB RADIO? Why can't there be SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?

 

[murcuryvapor]

I like a lot of comedy. IMHO, this sucked. If you like the jokes contained within this programming, enjoy yourself.

If you identify with the 'angry (white) guy' programming, you may want to look inside a bit. Just a thought.

By the way, if you think I identify with 'hipster' or 'soccer mom' programming, read my posts elsewhere.

I'm not a killjoy or a tightass. But give me something that doesn't insult my intelligence.

I'M not saying the bit was funny- dothead joke, hee hee ho ho, no. And I'm not talking about racist humor, I'm talking "Hot Talk". I (am harping on this for the millionth time and beating this horse to a pulp) remember searching the AM dial in the months before "Free FM", looking for SOMETHING to listen to. I wanted something funny to listen to, but all that was available was politics or sports. What happened to WYSP filled that hole, and if it comes to something being racist, thats on the show. I don't laugh out loud every time someone drops a SLUR. Thats not what its about. But every time someone does, people don't need to get up in arms about it, not referring to message board discussion, but to those who flip their sht and go non stop with calls to the station and/or company.

And I wasn't referring to YOU at the end (though I knew it was gonna look that way, no idea how to fix it). Haha I know nothing about you. And I like how you bring up the intelligence factor. Why can't there be DUMB RADIO? Why can't there be SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?

Don't worry-there's still plenty of it around.

Why don't you get Sirius? Smart and dumb with curses.

 

[PhillyWatch]

I like a lot of comedy. IMHO, this sucked. If you like the jokes contained within this programming, enjoy yourself.

If you identify with the 'angry (white) guy' programming, you may want to look inside a bit. Just a thought.

By the way, if you think I identify with 'hipster' or 'soccer mom' programming, read my posts elsewhere.

I'm not a killjoy or a tightass. But give me something that doesn't insult my intelligence.

I'M not saying the bit was funny- dothead joke, hee hee ho ho, no. And I'm not talking about racist humor, I'm talking "Hot Talk". I (am harping on this for the millionth time and beating this horse to a pulp) remember searching the AM dial in the months before "Free FM", looking for SOMETHING to listen to. I wanted something funny to listen to, but all that was available was politics or sports. What happened to WYSP filled that hole, and if it comes to something being racist, thats on the show. I don't laugh out loud every time someone drops a SLUR. Thats not what its about. But every time someone does, people don't need to get up in arms about it, not referring to message board discussion, but to those who flip their sht and go non stop with calls to the station and/or company.

And I wasn't referring to YOU at the end (though I knew it was gonna look that way, no idea how to fix it). Haha I know nothing about you. And I like how you bring up the intelligence factor. Why can't there be DUMB RADIO? Why can't there be SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?

Don't worry-there's still plenty of it around.

Why don't you get Sirius? Smart and dumb with curses.

Its just unfortunate that the diversity is fading from FM/AM in favor of same same same.

 

[getsmart]

Sometimes I think Al is funnier than Joe Conklin. Al throws out a lot of one liners, while Joes bits go on a little too long. It also hard to listen to Joes bits, as the whole morning crew, continually laughs through the whole thing. Including parts that arent even funny, or an obvious punchline. I have never seen Joe live, so I dont have much to go on except his bits on WIP. But bits like that are done everywhere on the radio, so if you take offense, turn the station.

 

[doowopvault]

For the people who say "turn to satellite radio if you want raw, uncensored speech" And for the people who say "I have a right not to be offended. I should not have to change the dial" let me ask you this,If you are a democrat, and a radio host is doing a bit characterizing all democrats as "wimps,soft on terrorism, commies etc etc.And you, being a democrat, are offended, should he or she be thrown off the air? What about the reverse. A host is doing a bit on republicans. He or she is saying that they are all "war mongers, fascists and Nazi's". A republican is offended. Should he or she be thrown off the air? What if a host criticises Islam, should the Muslim's have the right to have that host fired? What about Leno and Letterman with their jokes about Catholic Priests? should they be fired and replaced? do you see where this is going? There are so many religious groups, so many political groups, so many people that are thin skinned cry baby drama kings and queens, that no matter what you say about whom or what, someone will be insulted. Let's go back to the late 60's early 70's with "All in the family" a classic. Should Norman Lear have been fired and the show pull from the air because of the comments made by the character Archie Bunker? As California Joe said, "people should not have to change the dial. people have a right not to be offended".Are we getting to the point where public discourse and comedy should be eliminated for fear of offending someone? Do we eliminated dissent from talk shows for fear of offending the flag wavers? What a sad state of affairs.

 

[murcuryvapor]

For the people who say "turn to satellite radio if you want raw, uncensored speech" And for the people who say "I have a right not to be offended. I should not have to change the dial" let me ask you this,If you are a democrat, and a radio host is doing a bit characterizing all democrats as "wimps,soft on terrorism, commies etc etc.And you, being a democrat, are offended, should he or she be thrown off the air? What about the reverse. A host is doing a bit on republicans. He or she is saying that they are all "war mongers, fascists and Nazi's". A republican is offended. Should he or she be thrown off the air? What if a host criticises Islam, should the Muslim's have the right to have that host fired? What about Leno and Letterman with their jokes about Catholic Priests? should they be fired and replaced? do you see where this is going? There are so many religious groups, so many political groups, so many people that are thin skinned cry baby drama kings and queens, that no matter what you say about whom or what, someone will be insulted. Let's go back to the late 60's early 70's with "All in the family" a classic. Should Norman Lear have been fired and the show pull from the air because of the comments made by the character Archie Bunker? As California Joe said, "people should not have to change the dial. people have a right not to be offended".Are we getting to the point where public discourse and comedy should be eliminated for fear of offending someone? Do we eliminated dissent from talk shows for fear of offending the flag wavers? What a sad state of affairs.

Let me preface my thoughts by saying you should learn the art of paragraphs and capital letters-just a thought.

You should be able to discern, Dennis, between what is a character on TV-a few times removed from the conceiver of the idea, and performers that act out their own thoughts. Carrol O'Conner was a paid pretender, and that was a satire of a person that may exist. Norman Lear executive produced some of the actual episodes, and it's based on a British comedy. And there's a surfeit of writers!

TV a different animal from Radio today-as the speakers in this case were writing and 'acting' their words. They own all they speak and they are what they speak. Racist? I don't know.

Nobody is going to ask a money maker to leave the campus-period. I found the bit not funny and hackneyed. Other people like it. They can have it. No speech should get you thrown from the air, but business is business. If it's equitable to toss a performer with a lucrative contract out for reasons other than non-performance because they want to save money, it should be rolled up in contract language, and contested in court if the company breaches. That simple. Go in loaded with a lawyer if you want to protect the job, never mind the first amendment.

 

[doowopvault]

First of all, Norman Lear wrote the character and the SCRIPT!!! which is why I asked, should he get fired? Second,you have no response to all of the other examples given. Thirdly, let me preface my comment by saying don't focus one example and ignore the rest.I used TV as one example. The rest we're problems that occur in radio.The fact is, it does not matter if one is doing a bit or giving an opinion, someone will be offended.The fact is, it all depends on how large is the outcry, how large is the group that is whining, do they have any high profile whiners in the group and how much pressure will they put on advertisers. Don't forget, the 4th of July is coming. Take out you're flags and proclaim how "free" you are.I'd like you to tell this crap to Phil Donahue and Robert McChesney, among others.

 

[murcuryvapor]

First of all, Norman Lear wrote the character and the SCRIPT!!! which is why I asked, should he get fired? Second,you have no response to all of the other examples given. Thirdly, let me preface my comment by saying don't focus one example and ignore the rest.I used TV as one example. The rest we're problems that occur in radio.The fact is, it does not matter if one is doing a bit or giving an opinion, someone will be offended.The fact is, it all depends on how large is the outcry, how large is the group that is whining, do they have any high profile whiners in the group and how much pressure will they put on advertisers. Don't forget, the 4th of July is coming. Take out you're flags and proclaim how "free" you are.I'd like you to tell this crap to Phil Donahue and Robert McChesney, among others.

I suggest a trip to imdb.com. He didn't put all the words in Archie's mouth.

I responded in a broad manner, Dennis. The last paragraph? CBS wanted to dump Imus, ditto Kidd Chris because they were losing money for the company. If the examples you give make money, they will prevail. It's not fair, and it's up to each group targeted to defend themselves through PR and the press. That's the mechanism. The marketplace. Get it? No cash cow will be fired. Capice? Now, get out of the heat.

 

[doowopvault]

Did you look that up after you read the response? You keep saying "ratings", well let me give you a great example where "ratings" don't matter. Again, Phil Donahue. When he had his show on MSNBC, he had the highest "ratings" on that station. And you can look that up. His show was cancelled, You know why? because the management said "we don't want the Phil Donahue show to become the home of the anti-war movement". This memo was leaked out.The fact is, you can have the highest ratings, but If some whining offended group has they're balls twisted about something that was said, and they decide to demonstrate and threaten a boycott of the various products advertised on that show, it will not matter what the ratings are, that show is gone. Or they will replace the host. There is a difference between hateful comments, such as the comments made by the goofball that MSNBC replaced Donahue with. I forgot the morons name. He said that "all homosexuals should get aids and die". Now that is hateful speech which should not be tolerated. But being cancelled, fired for political opinion, or a comedy bit should not be tolerated.

 

[doowopvault]

One last thing, Murcuryvapor. Here is another great example that shows how ratings do not matter. But how the size and strength of the offended group does matter. Edward Asner wrote and stared in a show called "Lou Grant". Now you know he has been very politically active for years. In one episode he criticised, lambasted the nuclear industry. Now, even-though his show was in the top 5, The nuclear industry had CBS pulled his show from the air. So much for big ratings. Look that up on IE7.