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Mark Maron to Leave Morning Sedition

D

doc9464

Guest
He just announced it on the show this morning.....any gossip....? news? As far as i can tell, it sounds like its salary negotiation time....so who knows....right now it sounds like end of the month....November that is....

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by doc9464 on 10/31/05 12:24 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Is he the White Mark or the Black Mark?

The White Mark is a standup comedian with no radio experience and it showed. About all he did on the show was promote his local New York appearances. He wasn't funny on the radio and gave no reason for anyone to expect he'd be funny in a comedy club. If he asked for more money, given the dismal performance of the program, that's chutzpah!

The Black Mark is a legacy from Inner City's WLIB (along with Wayne Gellman, the world's worst news reader). He never did much on the show. He doesn't have to. Clearly the Black Mark and Gellman are untouchable (maybe they could give Gellman a raise to do nothing and keep his mouth shut).

What's next for Morning Drive?

They could give Rachel Maddow a shot and remain politically correct.
Better they should hire somebody who knows how to do morning drive. Reportedly, management has had talks with at least two liberal-leaning former morning jocks, one in LA and one in Philly.
In a perfect world, AAR would stop programming morning drive for the network and put a real local morning show on WLIB.
 
> Is he the White Mark or the Black Mark?
>
> The White Mark is a standup comedian with no radio
> experience and it showed. About all he did on the show was
> promote his local New York appearances. He wasn't funny on
> the radio and gave no reason for anyone to expect he'd be
> funny in a comedy club. If he asked for more money, given
> the dismal performance of the program, that's chutzpah!
>
> The Black Mark is a legacy from Inner City's WLIB (along
> with Wayne Gellman, the world's worst news reader). He
> never did much on the show. He doesn't have to. Clearly
> the Black Mark and Gellman are untouchable (maybe they could
> give Gellman a raise to do nothing and keep his mouth shut).
>
>
> What's next for Morning Drive?
>
> They could give Rachel Maddow a shot and remain politically
> correct.
> Better they should hire somebody who knows how to do morning
> drive. Reportedly, management has had talks with at least
> two liberal-leaning former morning jocks, one in LA and one
> in Philly.
> In a perfect world, AAR would stop programming morning drive
> for the network and put a real local morning show on WLIB.
>

Morning Sedition seems to be carried by quite a few affiliates. It's tough for talk stations to succeed in morning drive, so they saved the money and went with the default show. The only other morning drive show (6-9 ET) in that time slot is Bill Press, who just started his program and is only on 3 or 4 affiliates.

Perhaps the new management of AAR is looking to get serious about morning drive. They may have gotten some heat from affiliates who want something with a little more bite for that shift. Personally, while I'm not a fan of all the shows on the network (Franken doesn't do it for me), I didn't think "Morning Sedition" was all that bad.<P ID="signature">______________
The Liberal Talk Radio Update</P>
 
That's Marc (as in Marcus) Maron.

The white guy stand-up comic.

I smelled his departure coming for some time, as soon as the Marc's Dream Diary bits disappeared.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the plan will be to keep Mark Riley (who did a morning news-talk program on WLIB for many years before AAR's arrival) in that slot, and move up-and-coming Rachel Maddow from 5AM to be his new partner, keeping the other comedy characters (the Milfingtons-Morfingtons, Johnny K-Street, Lawton Smalls, etc.) in place. Kent Jones will probably move his "Kent Jones Now" segment into MS as well.<P ID="signature">______________
also known as tombetz.</P>
 
there were also rumors that Jim Hightower was going to join but that would not help the show or the chemistry.....but i like the idea of more maddow on the air....she and Riley should do ok .....but I want to see a will durst or jimmy tingle get some time to do a few bits now and then...both comedians are smart and actually know how to deliver witty political dialogue..but not sure how frequently they could be on to do bits...


> That's Marc (as in Marcus) Maron.
>
> The white guy stand-up comic.
>
> I smelled his departure coming for some time, as soon as the
> Marc's Dream Diary bits disappeared.
>
> I have a sneaking suspicion that the plan will be to keep
> Mark Riley (who did a morning news-talk program on WLIB for
> many years before AAR's arrival) in that slot, and move
> up-and-coming Rachel Maddow from 5AM to be his new partner,
> keeping the other comedy characters (the
> Milfingtons-Morfingtons, Johnny K-Street, Lawton Smalls,
> etc.) in place. Kent Jones will probably move his "Kent
> Jones Now" segment into MS as well.
>
 
Re: Morning Sedition

You guys (among others) keep saying you want AAR to succeed.
Maybe it's time to forget political correctness and hire talent with a solid track record for entertaining morning drive radio.

Meantime, if I were DR, I'd be out knocking on the door of every progressive talk station in the West (except Portland) to get clearance for Stephanie Miller. And if I were Bill Press' syndication rep, I'd be doing the same thing in the East.

Morning Sedation is an albatross on the neck of progressive talk radio. Randi's getting her act together. Jerry is mostly on solid footing. If AAR can get Franken to go away (Minnesota or anyplace else)so they can move Hartmann into the midday slot, and put together an entertaining morning show, they might have a chance to make it long-term.

People (not just me) keep trying to tell you guys that to be good, radio has to be entertaining - or people won't listen. We're on your side (at least most of us are). What do we have to do for you guys to get it?
 
Re: Morning Sedition

> You guys (among others) keep saying you want AAR to succeed.
>
> Maybe it's time to forget political correctness and hire
> talent with a solid track record for entertaining morning
> drive radio.

Where do you get your ideas from? Political correctness?? Not sure where you are going. Like most people, we tend to support what we enjoy. Its not politically correct or anything of that nature to support something we like or even believe in. You are the person posting about radio you supposedly hate, dislike, or detest. I don't know which one it is. It seems to me that since you don't like AAR or progressive radio, why bother listen or offer criticsm. If it is as bad as you say it would have been off the air already..but there are those who like AAR and liberal/progressive radio. You continue to preach to empty pews. Those who like liberal progressive radio will ignore you and I should probably do the same..LOL. The right doesn't like and probably listens less to AAr and others. So, I don't know the audience you are trying to convince here. You aren't a fan so why listen. And as a foe, you keep offering your unsolicited criticism. Its a bit odd.....
>
> Meantime, if I were DR, I'd be out knocking on the door of
> every progressive talk station in the West (except Portland)
> to get clearance for Stephanie Miller. And if I were Bill
> Press' syndication rep, I'd be doing the same thing in the
> East.

Both hosts are great and hope they continue to get clearances. But im in Tom Betz's camp...local hosts seem to be the better solution. It works and I hope AAR will continue to offer a choice to the stations that cannot afford an all-out local choice for morning drive.

> Morning Sedation is an albatross on the neck of progressive
> talk radio. Randi's getting her act together. Jerry is
> mostly on solid footing. If AAR can get Franken to go away
> (Minnesota or anyplace else)so they can move Hartmann into
> the midday slot, and put together an entertaining morning
> show, they might have a chance to make it long-term.

Thanks Mr. Ebert, Ill take that as a thumbs up on AAR's progress. Jokes aside,
I wasn't a big MS fan but its not the horror show you paint it to be. The show has some great comedy bits and its fine when they have good guests on. I'm just not a big fan..though i do love Lawton Smalls and try to catch the podcasts to hear those bits..

> People (not just me) keep trying to tell you guys that to be
> good, radio has to be entertaining - or people won't listen.
> We're on your side (at least most of us are). What do we
> have to do for you guys to get it?

Mwebster, we get it. AAR isn't entertaining to you. Your opinion is duely noted. Now lets go forward with the rest of the daily business. Im not sure where you are regarding sides..and personally don't care to be honest...but that doesn't mean you dont have a right to express yourself..but I think we get it..and you shouldn't depend on liberals or progressives that enjoy AAR or liberal radio to agree with your constant trashing of the current choices available.
 
Re: Morning Sedition

> You guys (among others) keep saying you want AAR to succeed.
>
> Maybe it's time to forget political correctness and hire
> talent with a solid track record for entertaining morning
> drive radio.
>
> Meantime, if I were DR, I'd be out knocking on the door of
> every progressive talk station in the West (except Portland)
> to get clearance for Stephanie Miller. And if I were Bill
> Press' syndication rep, I'd be doing the same thing in the
> East.
>
> Morning Sedation is an albatross on the neck of progressive
> talk radio. Randi's getting her act together. Jerry is
> mostly on solid footing. If AAR can get Franken to go away
> (Minnesota or anyplace else)so they can move Hartmann into
> the midday slot, and put together an entertaining morning
> show, they might have a chance to make it long-term.
>
> People (not just me) keep trying to tell you guys that to be
> good, radio has to be entertaining - or people won't listen.
> We're on your side (at least most of us are). What do we
> have to do for you guys to get it?
>

That assumes, of course, that people always agree with your 'expertise', when clearly that they don't. Marc Maron's humor is boring for morning talk radio, and that was the primary problem with the show itself.

Mark Riley (a radio guy) is easily the best contributor to the show, and the comedy bits aren't half bad. And if Rachel Maddow steps in to replace Maron, that show won't be the filler it usually is.
<P ID="signature">______________
"Not fixing [New Orleans'] levees before Katrina struck will now cost us untold billions. Not resolving the nation's issues of race and class has and will cost us so much more."
--Wynton Marsalis
</P>
 
Re: Morning Sedition

> Both hosts are great and hope they continue to get
> clearances. But im in Tom Betz's camp...local hosts seem to
> be the better solution.

Hey, while that approach makes sense to me, let's give credit where credit is due! Clear Channel management stated their intent to take that approach as much as possible when they launched their "progressive talk" format -- local hosts in morning drive, and syndicated programming the rest of the day.

I wish I could remember who exactly it was from CCC quoted in the article where I read that... anyway, this doesn't mean that AAR shouldn't offer a morning-drive type syndicated show for those stations that can't afford to produce a local program. A re-tooled Morning Sedition could do very nicely for AAR, as long as they don't raise their expectations unreasonably high.<P ID="signature">______________
also known as tombetz.</P>
 
> Personally, while I'm not a fan of all the
> shows on the network (Franken doesn't do it for me), I
> didn't think "Morning Sedition" was all that bad.

I really like Marc Maron as a standup comic, and have been following his career for years. I used to go out of my way to catch the little man-in-the-street talk/interview show he used to do for Cablevision's New York Metro channel (literally, he and his crew would set up a little desk and a guest chair at different locations on the NYC sidewalks with a sound/camera crew, and interviewed people as talk-show guests that he just picked from the passers-by -- it was remarkably surreal and entertaining!) I really hoped he'd do well on radio, but he just never hit his stride on Morning Sedition -- while I don't mind some rough edges on the radio, except in the prepared bits, Marc never was anything BUT rough edges. Too hard to take as a steady diet.<P ID="signature">______________
also known as tombetz.</P>
 
The 3 main problems with Morning Sedition are:

> > Perhaps the new management of AAR is looking to get serious about morning
> > drive. They may have gotten some heat from affiliates who want something
> > with a little more bite for that shift.


I will preface this by saying - I consider myself to be a Progressive (on most issues); and I listen daily to AAR's Franken and Rhodes, and also (formerly) DR's Schultz.

Fighting Irish,

I think you hit the nail on the head - the 3 main problems with Morning Sedition are:

1.) Not political enough - Too much like every other local morning show - primarily comedy bits, and interviews with entertainers, and non-political others.

Progressives/Liberals - are busy like everyone else during the day, so when they listen to AAR in the morning on their way to work - they want to hear the latest P/L talking points bashing the Conservatives/Republicans - and not another interview with some stupid entertainer or comedy bit that they could get on ten other local morning shows.

It makes no sense to have a P/L political radio network - and have the morning show be primarily fluff (like everyone else in the market) - and not political.

The AAR Morning Show needs to be both strongly political (intellectual and passionately P/L), and entertaining. Currently the AAR morning show is just entertaining, not political enough.

2.) Too New York-focused - They always seem to be discussing some New York/New Jersey issue or person.

Morning Sedition is on numerous AAR affiliates, the Morning Show needs to say something of relevance to the rest of the AAR affiliates beyond the NYC/NJ area.

3.) Comedy bits not all that funny - I think the MS comedy bits were an acquired taste, and I never acquired a taste for it (along with a lot of other people).



> > Is he the White Mark or the Black Mark?
> >
> > The White Mark is a standup comedian with no radio
> > experience and it showed. About all he did on the show
> was
> > promote his local New York appearances. He wasn't funny
> on
> > the radio and gave no reason for anyone to expect he'd be
> > funny in a comedy club. If he asked for more money, given
>
> > the dismal performance of the program, that's chutzpah!
> >
> > The Black Mark is a legacy from Inner City's WLIB (along
> > with Wayne Gellman, the world's worst news reader). He
> > never did much on the show. He doesn't have to. Clearly
> > the Black Mark and Gellman are untouchable (maybe they
> could
> > give Gellman a raise to do nothing and keep his mouth
> shut).
> >
> >
> > What's next for Morning Drive?
> >
> > They could give Rachel Maddow a shot and remain
> politically
> > correct.
> > Better they should hire somebody who knows how to do
> morning
> > drive. Reportedly, management has had talks with at least
>
> > two liberal-leaning former morning jocks, one in LA and
> one
> > in Philly.
> > In a perfect world, AAR would stop programming morning
> drive
> > for the network and put a real local morning show on WLIB.
>
> >
>
> Morning Sedition seems to be carried by quite a few
> affiliates. It's tough for talk stations to succeed in
> morning drive, so they saved the money and went with the
> default show. The only other morning drive show (6-9 ET) in
> that time slot is Bill Press, who just started his program
> and is only on 3 or 4 affiliates.
>
> Perhaps the new management of AAR is looking to get serious
> about morning drive. They may have gotten some heat from
> affiliates who want something with a little more bite for
> that shift. Personally, while I'm not a fan of all the
> shows on the network (Franken doesn't do it for me), I
> didn't think "Morning Sedition" was all that bad.
>
 
Air America doesn't always reach out to traditional AM talk listeners.

> You guys (among others) keep saying you want AAR to succeed.
>
> Maybe it's time to forget political correctness and hire
> talent with a solid track record for entertaining morning
> drive radio.
>
> Meantime, if I were DR, I'd be out knocking on the door of
> every progressive talk station in the West (except Portland)
> to get clearance for Stephanie Miller. And if I were Bill
> Press' syndication rep, I'd be doing the same thing in the
> East.

Yes you point out a good strategy for Democracy Radio.

A successful talk show dealing with the political arena has to be sensational and entertaining and full of energy and humor in order to get ratings.

The weakness of some of the Air America shows is assuming that most listeners are highly educated and very well informed on political matters. People who want to listen to talk radio that is comprehensive in scope (with little humor or entertainment value) already have NPR, Pacifica, and other public/non-profit radio and TV programs. To succeed, Air America has to reach out to the traditional talk radio listener who is listening to Rush, Savage, O'Reilly, Noory, etc. Air America show hosts should offer brief monologues, have short interviews with politicians themselves rather than webmasters of blogs or comedians, and be very caller friendly. Indeed, Ed Schultz fits this profile and does very well.

Anyway from reading this board tonight it looks like most people posting on this news/talk board seem to like Air America's style? I guess I prefer the style of traditional AM talk radio, which is not necessarily conservative, e.g. liberal hosts on KGO (Ray Talliaferro, Bernie Ward, John Rothmann).
 
Re: Morning Sedition

Doc, you apparently don't read my posts. You grab snippets that you filter through your us-versus-them worldview. Us, for you, apparently is complete and total agreement (I'm not quite sure with what; maybe generally accepted liberal or politically correct talking points).

For the umpteenth time: I like progressive talk radio and want it to succeed. Even if I did not like progressive talk radio, I would still believe in a "marketplace of ideas." I do not like Air America Radio. I admire companies which are committment to customer satisfaction and total quality management, which have integrity, and which treat their customers, employees and suppliers fairly. I do not believe AAR fits the bill. And, more important, I agree with those who say AAR is "bad radio" and not "entertaining." I like progressive talk radio and I don't want AAR to discredit the format. (Please, what part of that is not clear?)

My comment about "political correctness" was in response to suggestions offered on this board to keep Mark Reilly and add Rachel Maddow on AAR's morning show. Neither, in my view, is ready for prime-time (neither is Wayne Gellman). I can only surmise such suggestions are a misguided attempt at "affirmative action" for members of "protected classes." I say AAR needs to hire the best morning drive radio people they can get - people who are entertaining first and liberal second. And if this means hiring straight White guys, so be it. But they probably will go with Maddow and Reilly to keep any entitlement groups from raising a squawk, or to keep anybody (else) from suing.

And, yes, some of the comedy bits are fun. But I don't see the hosts as responsible for them. They apparently do have some good production people.
 
Re: Air America Morning Potential Hosts? Ray Talliaferro?

> My comment about "political correctness" was in response to
> suggestions offered on this board to keep Mark Reilly and
> add Rachel Maddow on AAR's morning show. Neither, in my
> view, is ready for prime-time

Who would you suggest for Air America morning hosts? On the west coast we have Ray Talliaferro live 1am-5am (morning sedition is 3am-6am). Perhaps Ray could go on nationally on AAR in some sort of agreement with KGO/ABC.
 
Re: Air America Morning Potential Hosts? Ray Talliaferro?

> > My comment about "political correctness" was in response
> to
> > suggestions offered on this board to keep Mark Reilly and
> > add Rachel Maddow on AAR's morning show. Neither, in my
> > view, is ready for prime-time
>
> Who would you suggest for Air America morning hosts? On the
> west coast we have Ray Talliaferro live 1am-5am (morning
> sedition is 3am-6am). Perhaps Ray could go on nationally on
> AAR in some sort of agreement with KGO/ABC.
>

I like Ray very very much. But is Ray morning material?.....not sure. He has a pure rhythm going at night/early morning with his show on KGO. Hell, id give it a shot but I don't know if it would work.....

With Arnie Arnesen having trouble, I thought about her...shes got that "coffee grounds" sort of delivery. She's smart, knows the issues, can do the news stories. I like the idea of giving her a shot....Arnensen and Maddow on the issues.....two hard core news wonks with good senses of humor. Riley doing interviews and Will Durst doing commentary two or three times a week.

I also thought about Bob Edwards....hes on XM and this is his element. Why not bring Bob back to where he truly belongs.....making my tea go down easier while im getting my morning updates....Edwards and Maddow......thats a working combo....with gravatas as well. If this happens, Riley gets to work with Al Franken.
 
Franken Under Attack

Hmm. I always thought that ratings were the name of the game in the radio biz. If you look at Premiere's recent press releases comparing Rush's ratings with three lib talkers, Al Franken has much better numbers than either Springer or Schultz. But the AAR-bashers keep promoting Schultz and now one of the most vocal bashers is now promoting Springer!

BTW, Franken will be relocating to Minnesota in January and will continue to do his AAR show from there. If he ever runs for the senate (and its doubtful that he could even get the Dem nomination), it will be in 2008, for the Norm Coleman seat. Don't hold your breath. You could explode.

> Randi's getting her act together. Jerry is
> mostly on solid footing. If AAR can get Franken to go away
> (Minnesota or anyplace else)so they can move Hartmann into
> the midday slot, and put together an entertaining morning
> show, they might have a chance to make it long-term.
 
Re: Ray's 4am-5am hour

> I like Ray very very much. But is Ray morning
> material?.....not sure. He has a pure rhythm going at
> night/early morning with his show on KGO. Hell, id give it a
> shot but I don't know if it would work.....

During the 4am-5am hour, Ray is news announcer as well, introducing Bloomberg business reporters and anchors from KGO-TV and the KGO-AM morning news. He is warm and friendly talking with the newscasters and it really makes a good transition from the first three hours of his show to the KGO Morning News. I think Ray would be ideal for 1am-5am on Air America (or even 6am). Maybe Ray could do his original show 1am-4am alone on KGO, with Rachel Maddow, Mark Riley, and other hosts joining him 4am-6am. I'd like to see Joe Connosen (spelling, sorry) appear more frequently on Air America.

<With Arnie Arnesen having trouble, I thought about
<her...shes got that "coffee grounds" sort of delivery.

Who is Arnie Arnesen and can she be heard on-line? THanks if U have a link...
 
Re: Franken Under Attack

Hartmann and Franken are both talented broadcasters and should both continue with Air America as long as possible. Both have highly dedicated listeners. Franken gives name recognition to Air America as a network. Personally I think that both shows need to take more calls in order to sound closer to "traditional AM-talk radio."


> Hmm. I always thought that ratings were the name of the
> game in the radio biz. If you look at Premiere's recent
> press releases comparing Rush's ratings with three lib
> talkers, Al Franken has much better numbers than either
> Springer or Schultz. But the AAR-bashers keep promoting
> Schultz and now one of the most vocal bashers is now
> promoting Springer!
>
> BTW, Franken will be relocating to Minnesota in January and
> will continue to do his AAR show from there. If he ever runs
> for the senate (and its doubtful that he could even get the
> Dem nomination), it will be in 2008, for the Norm Coleman
> seat. Don't hold your breath. You could explode.
>
> > Randi's getting her act together. Jerry is
> > mostly on solid footing. If AAR can get Franken to go
> away
> > (Minnesota or anyplace else)so they can move Hartmann into
>
> > the midday slot, and put together an entertaining morning
> > show, they might have a chance to make it long-term.
>
 
BOB AND RACHEL DREAM TEAM

Aurora seems to forget that while Ray is doing overnights in the Bay Area, it's morning drive back East. Overnights and morning drive are entirely different ballgames.

But the Bob and Arnie show might work. It certainly would provide a lot more marquee value and drawing power than they've had so far with Franken.

I don't know about Arnie. Arnie's big skill is as an interviewer. AAR was stuck with Riley and maybe they have to keep him around doing something, but he is not ready for the big time. And letting Riley do interviews while Arnie talks issues and reads news is a waste of Arnie's strongest skill. Besides Arnie and Rachel as co-hosts gives you no contrast. You might as well put on the satellite sisters.

My dream team would be Bob and Rachel in morning drive. Stephanie doing mid-mornings*. Hartmann replacing Franken. Schultz in afternoon drive. Randi doing early evenings. Arnie replacing Garafolo and/or Malloy late evening. Doug Basham doing overnights. (*Jerry does a good show but he's just got too much baggage from his TV show.)

Part of the value of Bob Edwards in morning drive would be to do a news oriented morning show that is not relentlessly ideological. If they want to broaden their appeal, AAR needs to stop preaching all the time.

>
> I like Ray very very much. But is Ray morning
> material?.....not sure. He has a pure rhythm going at
> night/early morning with his show on KGO. Hell, id give it a
> shot but I don't know if it would work.....
>
> With Arnie Arnesen having trouble, I thought about
> her...shes got that "coffee grounds" sort of delivery. She's
> smart, knows the issues, can do the news stories. I like the
> idea of giving her a shot....Arnensen and Maddow on the
> issues.....two hard core news wonks with good senses of
> humor. Riley doing interviews and Will Durst doing
> commentary two or three times a week.
>
> I also thought about Bob Edwards....hes on XM and this is
> his element. Why not bring Bob back to where he truly
> belongs.....making my tea go down easier while im getting my
> morning updates....Edwards and Maddow......thats a working
> combo....with gravatas as well. If this happens, Riley gets
> to work with Al Franken.
>
 
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