“We want Imus!”
Multichannel News’ Steve Donahue writes about viewers and listeners demanding the return of Don Imus…
Still can’t get over the dozens of “Talk Back” responses from the story we first posted Friday about MSNBC considering Joe Scarborough as a replacement for Imus In The Morning.
While some Multichannel News readers are debating whether MSNBC should go with Joe Scarborough, David Gregory or another anchor, the majority of the readers posting feedback say they want MSNBC to bring back the I-Man.
I won’t criticize the decision from NBC News to cancel Imus In The Morning, but I miss the show. Not for the politically incorrect jokes and skits that got Imus canned, but for the interviews Imus conducted.
Do advertisers buy spots based on ratings? Would they be the same advertisers that ‘caved’ during the Imus controversy? How much were they paying with the IMan,and how much would they be paying now with 50% fewer viewers? Did MSNBC figure on this loss of viewership, not only in the AM, but throughout the day? I hope MSNBC becomes TOTALLY irrelevant. I miss IMus, he was an experienced, professional broadcaster with over 30 years of experience….he is irreplaceable.
Comment by cas — May 30, 2007 @ 6:29 am
No one can replace I-man. He is not a racist, just a taste of bad humor. I could not be happier that Msnbc is tanking due to the loss. What about Bernard McG. He is not a racist either and now he is not even given a second chance from what I hear. What is wrong with this picture and country. Whether we believe in Christ or not, we were all taught forgiveness.
Comment by Cathy — May 30, 2007 @ 7:49 am
So this is how you run a network, you cave into minority special interest groups…MSNBC is a network, their parent company is GE, a Large Company- with Share Holders. I would think MSNBC would need to show a profit. Their sponsors buy advertisements, they buy air time for their product- commericials, then the people who watch in theory buy the products in the commericials. Then the people all who work for MSNBC who BASHED IMUS, get a paycheck. Don Imus and the Imus Crew for YEARS made money for these Networks and Corporations. They have not paid him back in Kind. I am boycotting MSNBC/CBS/All the Sponsors who deserted Don Imus and caved into a minority special interest group. The Media lives in a BUBBLE in this case NYC, alot of people in the rest of the country knows what happened to Don Imus this was a lynching. Click on my name Ree and it will take you to one of the boycott webpages 42,000 strong and growing.
Comment by Ree — May 30, 2007 @ 9:43 am
If MSNBC’s ratings are down 50%, I wonder how the radio stations who carried the show are fairing? Everyone lost in this deal but mostly all of us who miss the show.
Comment by J M — May 30, 2007 @ 10:07 am
I won’t boycott anything. Train-wreck TV is very usually the best TV. And sometimes “Morning Joe” cracks me up. But it is a sad sad replacement for a genuinely funny troupe of miscreants and knuckleheads. I’m constantly on alert for Joe to say something inappropriate. He never disappoints.
Imus will be resurrected. Or at least exhumed… and the hopefully he’ll bring some funny.
Comment by kevbo — May 30, 2007 @ 10:27 am
All I can tell you is that it is very easy to boycott NBC/MSNBC, because I can’t look at Brian Williams, Tim Russert, or Al Roker ever in the same way again. Imus was so good to them, always promoting their books or shows—and they cowardly turned their backs on him.
I have become fans of Hannity and Colmes who have supported Imus and Bernard McGuirk, his fired producer. I don’t care if I ever watch NBC again.
Comment by cr — May 30, 2007 @ 10:28 am
I no longer watch any programs on NBC, MSNBC or CBS. I no longer buy any products made by Proctor and Gamble. Since I have used nothing but Bounty, Charmin and Dawn for years, that says a lot right there. I had to replace my dryer a couple of weeks ago and my GE was replaced with another brand. The same will happen when I have to replace my washer and refrigerator in the next year or two. I watched/listened/recorded ‘Imus in the Morning’ every day that his radio program was simulcast on MSNBC, beginning on the very first day of his very first broadcast. From there, and with his recommendations, I began watching/listening/recording several other MSNBC talk shows during the late afternoon, evening and night time hours. All who turned their back on Imus are no longer part of my television watching. Their books are no longer on my bookshelf and their products are no longer in my house.
Comment by Julie — May 30, 2007 @ 10:30 am
I agree with all my pro Imus fans above. Now I bring my reading glasses with me to the supermarket so I can make sure I’m not buying anything on our boycott list. Never watch messtv at all & there is no reason to listen to WFAN.
Comment by LuLu06615 — May 30, 2007 @ 10:46 am
it’s pretty obvious that the suits didn’t take into account the demographics of the following Imus has….POOR MANAGEMENT & the Broad of directors should take a serious look & action regarding their cave in to a group that weren’t part of the demographics…..BOYCOTTING MSNBC/CBS til Imus comes back
Comment by Ms. M — May 30, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Cathy (aka #2) You go girl! “La Blackanostra” is over matched by The I-Man and Cardinal Egan.
Comment by Roger C. — May 30, 2007 @ 11:37 am
Not to repeat everyone, but I, too, was sickened by the way the network dumped Imus after the slightest hint of controversy. I used to get 90% of my news from either Brian Williams, Imus, or msnbc.com; I have now dropped NBC completely and will NEVER go back. I think it’s hilarious that NBC constantly ran footage of Cho Seung-Hui mere days after Imus left. I guess NBC fired Imus because they didn’t want to showcase a crazy man who carries a gun and shouts random tirades. Oh, wait…
Comment by Angie — May 30, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I was just reading about NBC’s slumping ratings. They could make thousands of people come back into their fold if they brought back our man, the I-Man. Let’s all kiss and make up.
Comment by Melanie — May 30, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
I, too, am boycotting NBC, MSNBC, and all companies that abandoned Imus. I used to get 90% of my news from MSNBC.com and Brian Williams; now, I haven’t watched Williams since his “hit piece” on Imus and haven’t checked MSNBC.com since the VaTech shootings. I remember how excited I was when Brian wanted to take Imus to Iraq with him. When the whole Imus controversy started, I realized that my favorite news anchor was more of a lily-livered backstabber than I had orginally thought. I remember how Brian Williams and Al Roker wrote entries on their blogs that supported Imus’ firing, and how they were so upset when viewers protested that they went on their respective shows being “shocked” at all the vitriol. It was as if they were two teenagers being angsty over their livejournal entries. Anyway, after that profile in courage, I knew it was time to pull the plug on NBC.
Comment by Angie — May 30, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
nbc would have to talk to Hillarys Hit Man Rev Sharpton and then again they will do whatever the race baiter says….
Comment by Don — May 30, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Don, you’re so right.
Comment by Melanie — May 30, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
REITERATING ALL THE ABOVE COMMENTS - HAVE ALSO STOPPED VIEWING ANY ‘NBC’ CHANNELS. PLEASE SOMEONE INFORM MR. IMUS THAT WE WANT HIM BACK AT WHAT HE AND ONLY HE CAN DO SO BRILLIANTLY AND UNIQUELY. IN ADDITION MY FAMILY IS SUFFERING DUE TO MY ‘IMUS IN THE MORNING’ WITHDRAWAL.
Comment by MARO — May 30, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
I agree with all the Imus supporters. I cannot watch Brian Williams or Tim Russert at all. I guess loyalty to friends is one lesson “Big Russ” forgot to mention. A simple “Imus is not a racist.” would have been appreciated at the time. We all saw what happened when it was gut-check time. Maybe it is not a coincidence that ABC is gaining on NBC in the news ratings!
Comment by Bobbie Reinecker — May 30, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
With so many people boycotting MSNBC/NBC after Imus’ firing, I wonder if that coincided with Brian Williams’ slip in the evening news ratings to Charles Gibson. Does anyone know if this happened around the same time?
Comment by Renee — May 30, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
#3 Renee you better contact your 42,000 strong and growing because I’m surprised to see only 18 comments. Hopefully it’s still early and more will comment to bring Imus back in the morning.
I to am still boycotting all P & G products. I had to make a list at first but now it’s easy. Have not watched MSNBC/CBS since. Never shopped at Staples anyway. I faithfully watched Matthews. Never on Sundays for Meet the Press. All softball questions for the media & politicians now. Have not watched Oprah Winfrey since her one sided debate regarding Imus & Hip-Hop and cancelled my subscription to her magazine. Has everyone forgotten the Rutger’s Team accepted Imus’ apology. I applaud them for not having any interviews after their meeting. Scarborough’s morning show is unwatchable. I am delighted MSNBC’s ratings have plummeted IMUS WAS MSNBC’s RATINGS.
Shame on Scarborough and Ridley for mocking Imus’ charitable work with Autistic children.
Comment by strider — May 30, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Strider,
It is Ree as in Laree, that’s my nickname this: We Will Have Action, isn’t my page on other blogs my page comes up on insidecable.com I like the different Imus Webpages, I frequent to come up. This is one of many before I put up Imus Today in the url because it is the clip of Imus talking about how the bastards got him. I thought why not while being on the article that is about Imus not put one of the many Imus support pages. On the MSNBC replacements, it does seem in real poor taste, to make fun of someone’s charitys and kindnesses. Don’t they know their on Air? If they don’t that would explain alot.
Comment by Ree — May 30, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Strider,
This is my page all I blog about is Imus. Click on Ree and my page should come up.
Comment by Ree — May 30, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
Strider,
This is my page all I blog about is Imus. Click on Ree and my page should come up.
Comment by Ree — May 30, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
No big surprise here. I’d say a third of my entire office watched Imus and we all complain every morning that we have nothing to watch. Why is this finally news though? Nobody cared about the people who watched the show before or they wouldn’t have fired him.
Comment by Jules — May 30, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Ree….
Imus talked on the show throughout 2007 about how Charlie Gibson was surging ahead and regularly overtaking Brian Williams…THAT started around the time Gibson started getting booked on “Imus I The Morning”.
O’Reilly’s been griping about NBC News/MSNBC’s politically far left turn for months {probably because Keith only started getting any ratings at all when every other story bashed either Bush or Bill O.}…and, despite Dan Abrams’ complaints, that turn to the left was clear and steadfast.
I mean, look at our new “star” of “Morning Joe”…one week, a GOP ex-rep turned commentator on politics…the next week, pop culture re-examiner. Matthew & Keith, they were already getting IV drips from Media Matters/MoveOn.org/The Clinton Machine.
And who gives a rat’s tail about what Tucker “I’m Really Nothing Without My Bow Tie, Either” Carlson says…..
NBC’s drop in ratings coincided directly with the hard shift to the hard left….as for the increases MSNBC has gloated about recently…well, if they keep it up for just a few more decades, they’ll surge into 2nd place, about a light year behind Fox.
Comment by Nick D. — May 31, 2007 @ 1:25 am
I miss IMUS!!! P-l-e-a-s-e bring him back! I am like all the rest of you ,I loved watching Imus, he brought joy to the 6-9 morning hour. A day with out Imus is like a day without sunshine * I have also been protesting ,or should I say boycotting MSNBC,till they bring back the I-Man!
He had a way about him , that no one, and I mean no one could ever copy,he is quite a character! So MSNBC think it over, and remember ,he can never , never , be replaced!
Comment by Patsu — May 31, 2007 @ 8:30 am
KEEP IT COMING GUYS! WE NEED MORE NEW POSTS!
http://www.multichannel.com/blog/1290000329/post/570010057.html
OUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD! THIS MORNING’S SHOW PROVES THAT!
ONE MORE TINY QUESTION:
What will happen if Al and Jessie get wind of this? Do you think they will protest if the I-Man is allowed back? (Okay that’s two!)
Comment by harleyquinn92 — May 31, 2007 @ 12:46 pm
Hey Harley,
I did think about Al and Jesse, you know they can only use that trick so much, then the Listening and Viewing public catch on so unless it is something they really want to target, they can’t use it the same trick too much because it will loose it’s impact after awhile. Americans catch on pretty quick to being manipulated. Then again it is past time for someone to call their bluff and say okay boycott me then. Let’s see just how big an impact, they can really make?
You know they say, Commerce trumps everything, at somepoint the Corporations who are in the buisness of selling American’s stuff, including online cable news, will figure out what is causing a drop in their revenue. Considering we all email and call them on a regular basis. I have to think they already know (SMILE) Imus’s fans are social people, we like to talk about what is going on and discuss it with the people who used to get our Dollars. You know I really do like Lou Dobbs, he is likeable, I have tried watching Anderson Cooper what is his schtick? I just don’t quite get him? I am not so hot on HLN. Fox, yeah I do watch Fox because they respond, imagine feedback.
I was just thinking this morning wouldn’t it be nice if MSNBC put Al Sharpton on in Imus’s old Slot, then I could enjoy NOT watching him.
Comment by Ree — May 31, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Please bring Mr. Imus back to MSNBC ; until you do, I will not watch MSNBC . You took away a great man who does so much good and has millions of fans. BRING HIM BACK, PLEASE!!!
Comment by Kathy — May 31, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
We have only Began!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any one know Dan Abrams e mail address? I have a letter all ready to send him. Please help!Thanks,Jack
Comment by Jack — June 3, 2007 @ 8:45 am
I miss Imus he is so funny! He turned me on to politics! Now there’s nothing to watch on tv. So here is a BIG FAT THANKS to who ever took him off the air. @#$% &*#
Comment by sue — June 15, 2007 @ 8:37 am
It was interesting to see who kept support Imus after he was fired - - Tim Russert was one that continued to support him - I watch CNN now - the senior center where I volunteer don’t even turn their t.v til 9:00 - we all relied on current information - lost faith with this administration - but Imus brought so many people together with his refreshing direct honesty - , and fought for the military, the ill - what great things has Al and Jesse done - own up to their own failings??? We will be happy when Imus, Charles, and crew are back -
Comment by Dot — August 3, 2007 @ 8:47 pm