Imus’ Rosenberg on ice….
NY Daily News is reporting that one of Don Imus’ minions, Sid Rosenberg, has been yanked from the program due to some not at all nice comments he made on air last week about singer Kylie Menogue’s breast cancer battles.
First the Brewer incident and now this (not to mention all the pot shots Imus has taken at MSNBC; its management and particularly its talent, over the years). One has to wonder how much longer Rick Kaplan (and by extension Jeff Zucker and Neal Shapiro over at NBC) will continue to value Don Imus’ show as a benefit to MSNBC’s programming. Presumably they have a line in the sand. But where is it?
There is no line in the sand where MSNBC and Imus are concerned. Witness the attacks on Contessa Brewer that Imus & Crew were allowed to make. Come on, the network released a statement saying that they weren’t happy with his comments about her? That was supposed to be a censure of some kind? Give me a break!
Comment by Shopaholic — May 24, 2005 @ 3:36 pm
Imus gets good ratings (comparatively) for MSNBC, but I think it’s one of the reasons the rest of the daytime does so poorly. No audience flow from the smart-mouthed talk show host to “hard news”. Indeed, the outrageous stuff Imus and his crew say frequently goes over the line of taste and responsibility, and hurts MS’s overall image, while not attracting the kind of audience they want to have for the next 8 hours of the schedule.
Comment by johnny dollar — May 24, 2005 @ 7:01 pm
I have read many places about MSNBC not wanting to put news up against Kouric. Which I think is a really stupid idea. MSNBC can’t steal viewers from anyone! They can barely keep their own. And IMO If MSNBC ran hard news in place of Imus. They wouldn’t steal any of NBC’s viewers. If someone likes “Today, Gma” type programming at that time. Why in the hell would they want to watch hard news? They don’t and wouldn’t. If they didn’t like what was on GMA or Today, they would switch between the two. Its like saying “I have been watching Gma or Today for 10 years. But I woke up this morning and decided to abandon what I like. So I can turn to check out MSNBC’s new hard news? Since that happening is ever so slight. My feeling is the person wouldn’t want their hard news from MSNBC. At anytime. Thats why their ratings suck. But hey, I like alot of the anchors on there. So I only want them to do better.
Comment by Jeff — May 24, 2005 @ 7:09 pm
People who are alarmed and, yes, offended by Don Imus’ remarks are missing the point…yes he’s grouchy and irritable and even offensive at times, but he also provides a politically insightful show with many different viepoints. His interview style also allows for very candid and non programmed responses from his various political and journalistic guests. and he’s FUNNY!! stop taking him so seriously and laugh as your being informed!
Comment by Will — July 11, 2005 @ 6:14 pm