Ironman Thom at it again!

[tbetz]

This is almost becoming a non-event... Hartmann's doing another ten-hour-straight day of political talk radio!Filling in for Randi Rhodes after doing six hours of his own programs -- and yes, he mentioned that his first guest had been on both those programs with him today, so I don't have to check my PC at home today to confirm it.Takes me back to the olden days...

 

[fred flintstone]

How long can he keep this up?How long will he be willing to keep this up?I suspect he's being the "good soldier" waiting for an opening. But this is radio. AAR could just as easily find some "name" without radio experience when there is an opening. I think Thom made a deal with the devil when he got in bed with AAR. Look how shabbily they've treaded Randi. And Thom already had the Portland gig and I don't see AAR doing such a great job lining up syndication clients for his national show. All he seems to get is some fill in work. Of course openings may be coming:Jerry is losing ground to Steph.Al is still talking about running for the Senate.Randi and Malloy have good reason to tell AAR to take the job and shove it.Majority Report is going nowhere.Neither is the split-shift morning show.Franken's and Janeane's contracts are up the end of next March.But still, Thom has radio experience and that may rule him out.

 

[robbbc]

Well...As everyone probably already knows, Thom will replace Franken next year. People have been speculating about this since....well, since Thom joined the network. It is not really a shock. That will save the network 20% or more right there.The split morning show does not work, I'll give you that- but Maddow is a great host and an easy way to cut 20% of AAR's costs would be to send Mark Riley on his way and give Maddow another hour.Majority report is great, especially for its timeslot, and Janeane will be gone or else just an occaisional "special guest host" next year. Another way to cut costs. Could always bring in Marc Maron to replace her when the time comes.As for Jerry, his show is pretty bad and will be gone as soon as the contracts are up. Another savings. AAR might try to get Steph or try for someone like Jay Marvin to replace him.Wow, I just saved 20% or more in operating costs for AAR- doesn't look as hard as the radio insider thinks.The word on the net is that the new CEO is OK and people are looking forward to what he will do. He is coming in after a CEO that is not well regarded on the liberal web so he won't suffer with the fans as long as he plays his cards right.

 

[fred flintstone]

Everyone may assume Hartmann will probably replace Franken - but everybody doesn't KNOW it.Steph has a gig. Why should she want to sign with AAR after making it on her own just fine without them? AAR could save more money by just dropping Jerry (maybe re-feeding the morning show for small market West Coast stations).Majority Report is getting cleared in too few markets. Apparently, Janeane's biggest competition is Randi on delay after Big Ed. AAR might do better - and save money - moving Malloy to 7 to 10 pm (with a repeat in the current time slot for stations which take Randi on delay in the early evening). Ideally, AAR should drop BOTH halves of their morning show. AAR's money would be put to better use by providing show prep and comedy bits for LOCAL morning shows. Too bad, AAR's backers are so obsessed with throwing money away by leasing stations. Their money would go to better use reviving Democracy Radio and backing local morning shows. Failing that, and IF AAR holds on to WLIB, they should have Mark Reilly do a local morning show (6-9 am) and feed Maddow to small stations out of town (also 6-9 am).Mark Maron has already been at bat. Too many recycled hosts from failed shows already.

 

[robbbc]

Fred,Now with all due respect- Marc Maron's show was hardly "failed" IMHO. Morning Sedition was just getting on its feet when it was concelled and Marc is/was a good host. Riley was/is really the problem. Offering him a 4 hour slot on WLIB sounds like a horrible decision. AAR fired the wrong guy! Have you heard Riley recently? He is the least prepared host I have ever heard. He doesn't even know what he is talking about most the time! He is in the wrong business. He shouldn't be let anywhere near a microphone.Rachel Maddow was not a failure either- it was Lizz Winstead who dragged Unfiltered into the abyss (along with a really good Stephanie Miller in compettition). Maddow's numbers at 5-6 convinced the brass to put her on the morning show, not some charitable notion of doing the right thing.Majority Report gets no respect in these forums but would be doing swimmingly if more progressive talk stations didn't have Ed on at a horrible time, from AAR's perspective. He has his place but progressive talk isn't it. He belongs on a station that mixes things up with lifestyle talk, Neil Boortz and/or such. I wonder if his people might be angling to get him on some of these FM talkers with all the "Libertarians" or bigger AM's with Joy Brown. If he is doing as well as he says he is he should definitely look to upgrading from the progressive talk stations.Malloy is too out there and his one-man show is great but tiresome. I'd rather have MR with Seder and Maron having some back and forth, and guests.But back to the point: AAR can easily cut the fat by dropping their Marquee names, which would be easy to do. Thom wouldn't be working this hard if he didn't think the writing is on the wall. Of course, he could be wrong.

 

[fred flintstone]

I don't disagree. I think Morning Sedition was showing improvement toward the end. However, the basic problem with Morning Sedition and with Unfiltered was the complete lack of chemisty among the members of the host teams. Maddow has potential but I don't think she's there yet. A couple of more years getting seasoning the minors would have been a better career move long term.I am not a fan of Mark Reilly either. However, WLIB/AAR should have a local New York morning show and apparently AAR is stuck with him as part of their LMA deal with Inner City Broadcasting. Speaking of the LMA, the rent they pay for WLIB is another unnecessary cash drain. They would be much better off financially with a standard affiliate in New York (like everywhere else), even if that affiliate drops out for local programming in morning drive, Stephanie Miller in late morning and maybe Ed Schultz delayed in the evening.Interesting idea to put Ed on "lifestyle" talk. After all, Jones also distributes Neal Boortz and Clark Howard (as well as Ed and Steph). Might be an effective line-up.Yes, I suspect Thom does think he's next in line for a slot on AAR's main network and is working hard to get it. However, it doesn't always work that way in radio. Another marquee name comes along, or some consultant with a "find," or somebody's friend. And at the last minute...