“Dick Cheney is still a war criminal,” Mr. Imus, 67, told the audience, in an effort to reassure them that he did not intend to alter his style completely, or curb his tongue. “Hillary Clinton is still Satan. And I’m back on the radio.”
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Don Imus, perhaps one of the more controversial of radio hosts to ever spread the word through a microphone is once again out of purgatory.
Imus, who was fired from his job at a New York radio station WFAN (also simulcast on MSNBC at the time) over disparaging remarks about a women's basketball squad, has finally surfaced again on the New York radio airwaves.
The Imus in the morning program began anew this week on WABC, while his comments about the Rutgers women's basketball program were truly wrong minded, the duplicity of many of his critics to assail him at that time also highlighted the hypocrisy of the media machine in the USA, where those with their own agendas were quick to the table to gain their fame.
Imus apologized a number of times over his remarks, lost his employment and has been in a radio purgatory for a number of months now.
ABC well aware of his public persona and ability to deliver ratings has decided to bring him back to the air in the media capital of the world. Most likely the safest ratings decision they could make, but perhaps one with the potential for image troubles if the I-man fails to behave.
It will be interesting to see if he can do his show without the edginess that it seemed to thrive on, if the early reports are any indication he's managed to harness the right tone, while keeping his sabre sharp. In the world of the shock talk radio show hosts, Imus for the most part isn't as crude, misogynist or racist as many of the others that have gravitated to satelite radio over the years.
His four hour program regularly would attract the major political, business, sports and entertainment figures of the day, many who would willingly take the slings of the I-man as they peddled whatever message they were there to try and deliver.
Observers will no doubt be keeping an eye on the guest list as the show starts anew, anxious to see if any of the old guard has decided to distance themselves from the radio host.
The advantages for interested listeners is that by migrating to WABC, his program will still be made available over the Internet through the WABC website. (though you have to get up at a rather horrid hour to tune him in 3-7 on the west coast)
If you've never heard him, his show is an interesting examination of the American day, when he's on his game and not succumbing to a mis step or two, it's perhaps one of the most entertaining and informative shows on the air.
His first day on the air on Monday, provided more apologies for his hurtful remarks of last April as well as introducing a new crew of show mates, who may help to provide his show with a more understanding feel than in the past.
Hopefully he's learned a lesson about boundaries and when not to push that envelope. He's long provided a reign on the powerful and the pompous, it will be worth listening to hear if he can still hold that guardianship while keeping himself out of further trouble.
Judging by his opening remarks, he'll still be roaring and may still find trouble also occasionally looks in his direction. It will be a high wire act, perhaps without a net, like no other we suspect.
New York Times---Imus Is Back, Chastened but Still Proudly Obnoxious
Newsday---Back on his soapboxNew York Daily News---Imus back on air after 8-month exile
USA Today---Don Imus is back in the saddle again
Boston Herald---In radio return, Imus vows to start dialogue on race relations
Newark Star Ledger---Imus returns to the air, eight months after firing
New York Sun---Could Don Imus Emerge as an Election Wild Card?
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Update: So the "live link" we provided doesn't seem to provide the actual show at all times (it seemed to miss segments when we listened in), so we searched out an alternate link that seems to provide the show here live and replays the program from 7 am to 10 Pacific time)
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