MSNBC/NBC News Exec Phil Griffin behind Imus’ apologies?
In a must-read, Foxnews.com’s Roger Friedman writes that NBC/MSNBC News Executive Phil Griffin was a driving force behind Don Imus’ public apology “tour”…
More surprisingly, though, is news about why Imus suddenly turned up on the Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio show so quickly after his firing — and did a lot of press that some feel harmed him and fed the controversy. Some feel those media appearances led to his dismissal.
Now I’m told Imus was coaxed into doing them by NBC senior vice president Phil Griffin. Imus, sources say, wanted to just apologize to the Rutgers women’s basketball team he offended and leave it at that. In fact, they say, he apologized to the team several times for his derogatory remarks.
But Griffin, sources close to the action insist, pushed him into high-profile interviews on the “Today” show and elsewhere. Griffin, they say, threatened Imus with canceling his MSNBC TV simulcast if he didn’t do the big interviews. The result was that he fueled the fire instead of putting it out.
“He didn’t care about Imus,” says a source, “only NBC. He told Don he would lose the MSNBC show if he didn’t do the interviews. And then NBC canceled the show anyway.”
Someone has the long knives out for Griffin…
Every NBC executive is like this. This is why NBC is going down the tubes. The executives at NBC are clueless and they just don’t know how to properly manage situations. NBC will continue to have problems until they clean house, starting at the very top with Jeff Zucker and moving right on down the ranks… TV 2.0 could be a nice tool to do this… instead of cutting low or mid-level employees… why not trim some of the incompetence from the top.
Comment by Nobody — August 15, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
And who was the first to throw him under the bus? Griffin, who by the way, is big buds with. . . Keith Olbermann. Birds of a feather. . . . .
Comment by Alison — August 15, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
well if Imus ends up somwhere else, i think we will hear the full story and then we will see Keith Olbermann on the defence of Ms-Nbc so he gets some pr.. dont mind me but i wouldnt put it past that dork to make himself part of the Imus Saga..
and in all honesty even i knew nbc was desperate for ratings when they made that appearance by don on the today show and called it an Exclusive LOL, i never knew a interview could be Exclusive if the dude is on your air waves already
Comment by don — August 15, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
“Griffin, they say, threatened Imus with canceling his MSNBC TV simulcast if he didn’t do the big interviews.”
Wait a minute! Isn’t Imus supposed to be the “tough guy” who doesn’t take any crap? Ah, well, so much for that myth.
Comment by Terance — August 15, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
Now that the case is settled btw Imus and CBS we are going to be hearing all kinds of things. Nobody has to be quiet anymore. I suppose there are those that have kept quiet and wish they could have spoke about what happened four months ago. I don’t think this is the end of it.
Comment by Ree — August 15, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
This is actually heartening to me. In his last week, I couldn’t believe the wimp Imus had turned into. He became a stupid-as*(an Imus word). Even if it’s only half true, I’ve regained a little respect for the man.
Comment by erljr — August 15, 2007 @ 10:43 pm
NBC was the tail wagging the dog, playing CBS like a fiddle. Less Moonves was one step behind NBC the whole way. Now neither MSNBC or WFAN have morning platforms equal to Imus in the Morning. They both loose but CBS looses bigger $$$.
Comment by ChannelXRFR — August 16, 2007 @ 7:22 am
This seems to be some reorder of the pecking order? Is this incompetence or hubris? I wonder if CBS and MSNBC are being lined up for the 2008 Presidential Election. We will see by their coverage if it is biased in favor of one party and one canidate. I know I have one in mind and “they” happen to be friends with Les Moonves.
Comment by Ree — August 16, 2007 @ 9:34 am