Help Kickstart The Randi Rhodes Show

Radio Goddess Randi Rhodes retired a couple of years ago, breaking the heart of this daily listener. As much as I love The Stephanie Miller Show (even sans Chris Lavoie), Randi was always my girl. And now she's attempting a comeback. I'm presently on a bit of a financial diet while The Other Half and I pursue career changes, but then I thought. . .hey, I've got this here blog thingy! If nothing else, I can promote her. So, please, if you ever were a fan, check out this video, head on over to the site (bounce your boobies if you feel like it), and consider helping crowd fund this needed voice.

Randi Rhodes Air Force

Liberal Talker Randi Rhodes Ending Show in May

Ouch. Well, at least this time, we Randi Rhodes fans got a little warning. Twice, we've endured sudden absences. As recently as a few months ago, The Randi Rhodes Show was slated for cancellation by Premiere Networks, and got a surprise year-long reprieve. So, this news is surprising, and not at all welcome.

The AM radio landscape is dying, led by a sponsor revolt at the whole format, mostly due to acerbic conservative host, Rush Limbaugh. Add to that the overall changes in media over the last couple of decades, and the concerted effort by radio network and station owners to squeeze liberal talk out of the market. Yes, yes, I'm aware that conservatives maintain that the people have spoken, and that they don't want liberal talk. If they'd ever gotten liberal talk on anything close to a level playing field, I might agree. But they haven't, and they didn't.

Randi, as well as The Stephanie Miller Show and others, were squeezed out of even Miller's own flagship station in Los Angeles in favor of Limbaugh, and the usual slate of conservative talkers. And is doing terribly. In fact, the whole genre is now doing terribly, and the right-wing side is only kept afloat by conservative think-tanks and like-minded groups. On the progressive side, not only are they fighting an uphill battle for programming, they don't seem to have the ear of monied liberal groups.

Randi has been hinting at a departure lately, and I figured this was coming. I thought it would be later this year, though. I know she has a good man in her life, and a home in Costa Rica, so maybe she's just sick of battling for a slot on the air. She seemed really bothered by several recent news stories, and has flat out said (paraphrasing) "it's time to go." As in leave this country.

In that, I wish her well. But I'll miss her New Yorker voice. Ironically, she herself admits she does not have a voice for radio! And she wasn't for all tastes. But since the days when I first found her, while looking for a new show called "The O'Franken Factor," way back in 2004, I've been a fan. And I'm hoping for some kind of revival at some point. Rest up, Randi, and come back in a new format!

[Excerpt]

Premiere: Randi Rhodes Show To End May 16th

A statement from PREMIERE said that RHODES "has decided to end her national radio program. We’ve had a successful partnership with RANDI for several years, and we wish her all the best for the future. PREMIERE NETWORKS will conclude syndication and production of RANDI RHODES on MAY 16th, 2014. . ."

Read more at: All Access

Randi Rhodes Staying on Premiere Radio Network

Fun fact: I made this graphic on one of Randi's
returns after an absence. She's since used it on
her own site. So, yay!

Whew! As a fan of liberal radio hostess, Randi Rhodes, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. Randi let slip that she was likely to be terminated from her Premiere Radio contract at the end of December, sending her audience into gallows mode. Those of us who have followed her since the beginning of Air America Radio have had to endure two prior--unexpected--losses of our radio goddess. We know that in the radio business, only so many things can be said aloud, and that due to contracts and whatnot, Randi couldn't tell us where she'd be, when or why. So, we were girding ourselves for a Randi-free future.

Alas, she's been re-signed, and will be around for at least another year. Sure, I'd have survived listening to Thom Hartman (who I do like), but given the choice, I'd pick Randi any time. Already, I have the three-hour lull between The Stephanie Miller Show and Randi's show (yes, Ed Schultz is on then, but I'm not exactly a fan). There's nothing I like to listen to after 3 pm. So, I was gonna be stuck with half of Steph's show, and then kind of a doldrums. What would I do, switch to Sean Hannity? Blecchhh.

Conservative radio fans would say that Randi's near-cancellation is just an indicator that liberal radio doesn't work. Interestingly--though they insist that the media is awash with liberal programming--they claim there is no market for liberal talk radio. Cognitive dissonance of course, has never been an issue for the tea party crowd. But the truth is, when Rush Limbaugh went on his misogynistic, hateful, and completely ignorant rants against Sandra Fluke, advertisers left radio in droves. Rush (and Sean and the odious Mark Levin and Michal Savage, et. al) manage to stay on because of conservative think tank foundation money. And phony colleges. And paranoid, end-of-the-world seeds, and gold, and whatnot. Those options are not available to liberals in this "liberal media."

Anyway, I'm jazzed that I'm not losing my Randi, at least not yet, not this time. And to anyone who would sneer and say that she's just the liberal version of Rush (or any of the also-rans, wannabes and never-weres), I'll tell you this. Randi has always said, "don't believe a word I say." She says, she knows the company she keeps on the radio dial, and that you shouldn't trust anything any of them say, without checking it out yourself from real newspapers.* I've kept her motto here at my blog as well. Where Rush will tell you to trust him as your single information source, Randi is constantly urging engagement, and even assigns homework on her show and website (which includes sources and further reading on her topics, from legitimate news sites). Plus, she's funny as hell.

Congratulations, Randi!

[Excerpt]

I have good news—I’m not going anywhere. I know what you’re thinking—Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is saying the same thing. But in his case it’s probably not true... and in his case that’s not good news. But Premiere is going to renew my contract for another year, so the good news is that I’m staying put. The bad news is that I’m in Florida, but that doesn’t need to affect you. I’m not going to go away, no matter what Republicans might want. In that sense, I’m like Obamacare—I’m just a lot easier to access. That’s because I have a much better website.

Read more: Randi Rhodes


*My one quibble with Randi Rhodes is her disdain for bloggers, which--obviously--is my hobby. I agree with her that no one should take a blogger's or a radio host's word for anything. Most aren't credentialed in any way (not Randi, not me, certainly not Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity), and are just giving their opinion. An informed opinion in her case, but still just opinion. So, I get it, but I don't think bloggers are useless, I think we point people to news, much as she does. Still love her though.

And by the way, I must point out that the only way for me to listen to any liberal talk, I have to actively seek it out online or on my phone, via IHeartRadio.com, DAR.fm or other online source. Again, for all the talk of "liberal media," we have never had a liberal radio station here in blue Clark County/Las Vegas, Nevada.

Thinking Secession is "American?" You Need Republican Rehab

Romney Hood!

A good turn of a phrase, I'd say.

Randi Rhodes Interviews Cher

Randi Rhodes--the liberal radio hostess, not the dead rock star--is an acquired taste. She has a brash style, outspoken liberal views (for which she has been offered more money to convert to conservative schtick), and a Brooklyn accent. I discovered her when looking for The O'Franken Factor (later The Al Franken Show) in 2004. I very quickly acquired the taste, and have followed her all over my (computer simulated) radio dial ever since.

Cher is more like a re-acquired taste. She's had so many career comebacks, she should have her own entry in the Guinness Book. Singer, actress, info-mercial queen and a helluva broad, her storied career is the envy of any starlet (or drag queen). She's won awards for everything, been in numerous hit movies, and had a hit song in each of six decades. Probably soon to be seven (UPDATE: If you count US Club Hits, she's already to seven decades of hits!).

The two teamed up for a radio interview on Randi's show, because Right-Wing World has come crashing down on Cher for tweeting her mind. A week or two ago. Yeah, I don't get it either. But as Randi says, if picking on Cher is a high point of your agenda? Yeah, you've got nothing. She's freakin' Cher!

Republican Talking Point: The Sun is an Obama Crony!

Duffy, the voice guy on The Randi Rhodes Show has an amazing voice, and some pretty funny schtick. I don't know if he writes his own material, but he is a definite talent.

Thom Hartmann: Why is FOX "News" Supporting the Christian "Taliban"?

I've abandoned Thom Hartmann since his radio show changed time slots, and went up against The Randi Rhodes Show. Sorry, Thom, I love you. But Randi is my radio goddess. And thanks a lot for leaving me with "Big Eddie."* Anyway, I thought I'd share a bit of Hartmann's stuff, since he really is one of the better radio hosts from the liberal side. And here, he's asking a damned good question.

*I'm really not intending to diss Ed Schultz. He's fine at what he does, and really does seem to care about the causes he covers. I just enjoyed Thom's style more.

Republican Rehab: Obama and the Supreme Court

So, President Obama had a few words the other day about the Supreme Court, and its pending decision on the Affordable Care Act (known often derisively as Obamacare). His words were measured and fairly mild, but certainly indicated that he didn't think that the Supremes should overturn the law. Well, many conservatives went apeshit, acting like Obama pitched a bitch at SCOTUS. Over on FreeRepublic.com, they're talking contempt of court and impeachment! Honestly, righties, get ahold of yourselves!

Republican Talking Point #315: A President Cannot Can Influence Gasoline Prices!

A little cognitive dissonance/hypocrisy political humor, from The Randi Rhodes Show.

 

azette.blogspot.com/2012/03/rush-limbaugh-listeners-on-par-with.html

John Boner Boehner: Tears of a Clown

Image from source, Randi Rhodes

I was going to write a post about the weeping, orange boner (™ The Stephanie Miller Show) tonight, but found a post by radio host Randi Rhodes that says it better than I can in my post vacation, post stomach flu mindset.

[Excerpt]

Tears of a clown:

John Boehner was on 60 Minutes last night. And yes, 58 of those minutes were Boehner crying. This guy simply cries too much. There’s a fine line between “sensitive” and “maudlin,” and John Boehner’s tears have washed that line away. He cries at the drop of a hat. And a guy who drinks as much as John Boehner drops a lot of hats. And it’s not like the guy gets misty, or tears up a little. He blubbers like he’s watching “Terms of Endearment,” “Ghost,” and “Old Yeller” all at the same time. Boehner told Leslie Stahl “There’s just some things that trigger real emotions.” Yup. And one of them is bourbon. . .


Read more at: Randi Rhodes

Sarah Palin Goes Dark

Image from source, Huffinton Post

Sarah Palin worshipers (and they are legion) are experiencing a bit of what we Randi Rhodes followers went through when her radio network went. . .uh. . .nipples up. Back then, me--a Rhodes fan of the highest order--was hungry for any tidbit, any clue as to what was going on with my radio goddess. And it was a long, arduous slog until the wonderous Randi was finally reinstalled on the airwaves.

But whither Sarah Palin? She's no longer Governor of Alaska. No longer anything, other than a vague conservative touchstone, with ponderous, nearly poetic musings. All the Palinists have to cling to is the mocking she's taking by the great William Shatner.

[Excerpt]

Palin Goes "Dark," Leaves Supporters Wondering

Fans to Sarah Palin: Please, post a tidbit on Facebook. A little chirp on Twitter would be nice.
It's been five whole days since Palin stepped down as Alaska's governor and her Internet fans are dying to know what's next. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Randi Rhodes Web Site Returns (Sort Of)

Every other day or so, I've checked in on TheRandiRhodesShow.com, to see if there has been any update into her whereabouts. I've already reported (a couple of times) that her show will return on May 11th (on KTLK-AM for one, others can be found here). But last time I looked, her website still had up the many weeks-old message that appeared after her initial disappearance.

Before Nova M Radio collapsed, Randi's site contained daily "homework" directly from her. Unlike some other hosts (cough! Rush! cough!), Randi always encouraged her listeners to do their own reading, to make up their own minds. She said often not to believe anything or anyone you hear on the radio--herself included--without checking it out for yourself. I take the same attitude with this blog. With a much more strenuous urging, since I don't have the time to do all the research Randi does.

Also at her site was a vibrant and active message board, an entire community of listeners. Hopefully, some of that will be retrieved when Randi's show is up and running again. While it isn't there yet, I was heartened to see that there is something up now, something that indicates that Randi is coming back, for real. And here it is. . .


Source: TheRandiRhodesShow.com

Randi Rhodes to Return to Radio on May 11!

It looks like my earlier plea to liberal radio star, Randi Rhodes, to please give us some information on her future has been heeded. Actually, though I have recently been visited by a radio host, I doubt that Randi knows I even exist. But the timing is kind of cool.

I've already written many times of my fandom for Randi Rhodes, so I shall not bore you with it. Instead, let's get right to the good news, shall we? [Excerpt]

Talk-Radio Host Randi Rhodes Joins Premiere

Randi Rhodes, the liberal talk-radio host perhaps best known for her stint on the Air America radio network, is joining Clear Channel Inc.'s Premiere Radio Networks, home to Rush Limbaugh and many of the nation's most conservative voices. . .

Read more at: The Wall Street Journal

UPDATE: The WSJ link seems to now require a subscription, so try this one at Green960: RANDI RHODES RETURNS!