ABC makes a hard Right turn

This morning WABC radio added Don Imus to their morning line-up, dropping long-time co-hosts Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby. I very much enjoyed their morning radio show and I will miss them. Curtis is right-wing, but pure New York. Kuby is a self avowed communist, and always has keen insight to the national political scene. It was the best thing on morning radio. Funny and informative. They will be missed. The irony is, of course, that Imus says something racist, and he gets to replace Kuby who is a civil rights lawyer.

I was never much of an Imus fan, and never understood his popularity. Maybe I was missing something. Imus has been off the air since April, when WFAN dropped him after his derogatory remarks about the Rutgers women’s basketball team. Apparently, WABC cares more about ratings than their integrity, but that is their business. What has changed since April? I really don’t know.

This is not the first time WABC radio has hired someone who was previously fired for making a very offensive remark on-air. ABC previously fired Bob Grant for making an extremely insensitive remark regarding the death of Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, who died in a plane crash in 1996. Recently, Grant was brought back to the station over the summer in the 8pm to 10pm slot.

I am sure they will soon bring Mike Savage on board very soon , who was fired from MSNBC for making offensive remarks about those who have suffered from AIDS.

So, now WABC has Imus, Rush, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin. They’re coming Right along, I guess.

Imus be Crazy

Is Don Imus making his way back to morning radio? Possibly so, according to that bastion of journalism excellence the New York Post:

While celebrating the sports station's 20th anniversary last Friday, Imus pals Mike Francesa and Chris Russo, of "Mike and the Mad Dog," hinted that a deal to bring the crusty talk-radio cowboy back is in the works.

"When we return to our regular schedule this September, I hope the team will once again be complete," Francesa said.

Imus has a lawsuit pending against CBS, the parent of WFAN. He claims in a breach of contract suit that he is stilled owed $40 million. So, with a big fan base, and a big pay check owed to Imus, maybe they will bring him back.

From Diversityinc.com, ----An article in the New York Daily News reported that WFAN was caught airing old episodes of the Imus show late last week.

Mark Chernoff, WFAN program director, commented on the broadcast, saying Imus' contribution to the station could not be ignored. "He was such a big part of the station for all those years," said Chernoff.

Should Imus come back? You be the judge.

Stay tuned, just not to WFAN.