Today I think we can finally say goodbye and goodnight to Air America. I have been an enthusiastic supporter of the network since it first aired. The talent was amazing. Marc Maron in the morning was frenzied and outrageous from his takes on politics to his life with his wife and cats. Rachel Maddow and Lizz Winstead were next, and they had an awesome show. Then came Al Franken, the best part of the day, with his sidekick Katherine Lanpher. His bits with Katherine were great. Then Randi Rhodes was up next. She was smart and entertaining. It was a full day of smart, funny, entertaining radio.
But Air America has never been a stable enterprise. Everyone is familiar with the shenanigans that went on just to get it on the air. After that, it had been in and out of bankruptcy until Mark Green bought it. Then it started to slowly fall apart. Mark Maron and Mark Reilly were booted off the mornings. Lizz Winstead quit and Rachel Maddow was banished to nights. Al Franken quit to run for the Senate and Thom Hartmann replaced. Smart guy, but not very entertaining. And now Randi Rhodes.
Here is the statement from Air America
Last week Air America suspended Randi Rhodes for abusive, obscene language at a recent public appearance in San Francisco which was sponsored by an Air America affiliate station.
Air America Media was informed last night by Ms. Rhodes that she has chosen to terminate her employment with the company.
We wish her well and thank her for past services to Air America. We will soon announce exciting new talent and programming that will accelerate Air America’s growth in the future.
I don't know who they are going to get to replace Randi, but the network is officially over.
Things have been worse for Air America in New York. They started with a strong station and then moved to a weaker one, WWRL. After a new owner bought the station, they replaced Thom Hartmann with Ed Shultz, they took Lionel, who is pretty entertaining, and replaced him with a hokey medical show, and the morning show is this guy Coz Carson, who is horrible.
So thanks, Air America, for getting me through the end of the Bush administration, I hope progressive radio that I can listen to returns shortly. I hate to see the neocons victorious once again, but we did blow it this time.