What should MSNBC do now that its dumped Don Imus?
According to the New York Times, Imus generated $50 million in revenue through his shows on CBS Corp.'s (NYSE: CBS) radio division and on the General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) cable television network. Plus, Imus' program was dirt cheap for MSNBC to air. Imus probably won't lose his job in radio given the sad state of the medium.
MSNBC has got to come up with something. Morning television is a cash cow for both broadcast and cable networks. It can't just keep broadcasting a never-ending supply of prison documentaries. Seriously, MSNBC must have filmed every maximum security penitentiary in the country.
Let me offer a few suggestions for replacement for Imus.
1) Keith Olbermann -- He's smart, opinionated and under contract with the network. Moreover, he would regularly outrage Republicans which would make for entertaining viewing. I don't care that no one agreed with my suggestion that the network should promote him more prominently on its ratings-challenged "Nightly News with Brian Williams."
2) Craig Carton -- One of the "Jersey Guys," the top-rated afternoon talk show that manages to entertain, offend and educate residents of the Garden State. I'm sure Gov. Jon Corzine, a regular Carton target, would be happy to see him leave New Jersey. He got women to make plaster casts of their breasts that were later decorated and sold to raise money for breast cancer research. It was called "Cans for the Cure."
3) Greg Gutfeld -- I learned about this guy in a recent New York Times story that described him as a "compact but enormously animated man." He sounds awesome and I plan to DVR his show and write up a post on it.
4) Jeanne Moss -- This CNN reporter has cornered the market on off-the wall stories. Why not make her a star? Still, she's been at the Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX)-owned network for 20 years and probably has a sweet deal.
5) Gwen Ifill -- She deserves a bigger audience than PBS. She's a seasoned journalist who keeps those troublemakers on "Washington Week" from getting out of hand.
This list is far from comprehensive.
Who would you like to see on MSNBC? Send in your suggestions and I'll pass them along to the network and they will be promptly ignored.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-12-2007 @ 8:09AM
John Fraser said...
I suggest you actually WATCH or LISTEN to Greg Gutfeld for 5 minutes before you give him a recommendation. The man (sic) is a retard who can't carry 10 minutes of broadcasting in a bucket. His co-host Rachel Marsden, on the other hand, is brilliant.
4-12-2007 @ 10:31AM
angelo said...
I just want to say to anyone listening/reading this that if people can not apologize for saying a stupid, silly or inappropriate remark that lets remove free speech from the country and get rid of erasers from pencils. The only person who has never made mistake should cast the first stone. I was always told that people should forgive not forget but forgive. This is not the case here we are going to burry Don Imus for what he said. How right is that? And he is not a serious commentator or news caster. He is a comic and some times the jokes don’t work but you should not get fired for that. And he just repeated things that are on almost ever rap CD sold in the country and the world but do we hear anyone call for the rap artist to stop no. I don’t listen to a lot of rap albums and I do watch Imus on MSNBC and if I am in my car I will listen to him. But if firing him as a to cover ones “but” is the way the station handles this I will not be listening or watching MSNBC or NBC for that matter lets put this way all three big networks are out because of the bias reporting which is more of a problem that Imus. I will turn of radio and TV and go to the internet to get my news and information. This whole thing is nothing more that something about nothing. Look at those making the comments and see what is in their hearts.
4-12-2007 @ 10:30AM
Pete Britton said...
Imus should not be replaced
Some punishment is in order but he should not be fired
He made a judgement error but he has apologized and after his suspension he should be reinstated and his program should continue
Ban the rap stuff if you are interested in doing something to help stop such statements in our society
And how is it that Al Sharpton or Jessie Jackson have any thing to say about this situation? I think they do more to damage such situations than they help
I feel they are promoting their own agendas in getting invloved in cases like this.
PB
4-12-2007 @ 11:13AM
Steve Sierocki said...
Let's look at the BIG picture. First and most obvious is DON IMUS said something he shouldn't have...PERIOD. Second. NBC did what it felt both ethically and economically was the best thing to do. They fired him. Third. THE PEOPLE made the difference here. Their voices were heard. (I just wish they do this with the government at the polls, but that's a whole other issue). Fourth. Now, Reverend Sharptin and Jesse Jackson and other Black Leaders need to turn their attention to the issue of "What's good for DON IMUS should be good for EVERYONE who acts that way, regardless of race!" Let's see the activism come out against the industry's who are PROMOTING the same language DON IMUS used that got him fired....which I thought was appropriate. Jesse and Al, you can't have your cake and eat it, too. If people want respect and have others look up to them, then they need to earn it. THE BIG PICTURE. We have a ways to go in this country before Dr. Kings vision is complete, but only if we stop perpetuating the ugliness we call hatred, bogitry, racism, intolerance, etc, etc.
Steve Sierocki
4-12-2007 @ 12:01PM
JIM NELSON said...
IMUS NEEDS REPLACED WITH THE REVERENDS JACKSON AND SHARPTIN. YES INDEED WE NEED SOME BLACK "RACISTS" TO ENTERTAIN US
4-12-2007 @ 12:10PM
Terry Cline said...
Have we all gone mad? Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have become the arbiters of morality? Please! You notice Sharpton and Jackson never attack any Black person who calls women vulgar names. Okay, Imus goofed, no doubt about it. But let's not stone the man to death just because he's white.
Terry Cline
4-12-2007 @ 12:57PM
metin said...
Why don't we replace Imus with Donald Trump? Isn't he looking for a little more exposure, and he is Mr. New York (and Atlantic City.) Besides, I am tired of watching reruns of the Apprentice on MSNBC.
4-12-2007 @ 12:59PM
metin said...
Actually, I am offering Imus (the I-Mess) a job if he doesn't take a more 'sirius' offer.
http://www.talkturkey.us/2007/04/wanted_don_imus.html
4-12-2007 @ 1:25PM
John Sutherland said...
I don't think Imus should be fired and replaced, but if a new host for the morning show has to be found it would be a good idea to look at what makes Imus so strong. It is his guests, mainly the NBC news staff responding to good questions. Gwen Ifil might do it if she is good at extemporaneous questions, or someone like David Gregory (who is demonstrably good).
4-12-2007 @ 4:38PM
Rosemary Edmonds said...
I think MSNBC should rehire Imus. He should never have been fired. MSNBC caved in to Sharpton, Jackson and all the rest of the hypocritical publicity hounds. They have said far worse
things than Imus did.
If they do not reinstate him, I will never watch their channel again, nor will I buy from those advertisers who cancelled as his sponsors.
4-12-2007 @ 4:29PM
Opinion said...
I think they should add The Young Turks. They've been trying to secure a TV show for years. I think they have a good team and whould make an excellent morning TV show.
4-12-2007 @ 4:29PM
stan said...
I think, Al Sharpton, that brilliant tower of human intellegence (without kinkkkkky hair) should replace Imus... Then MAYBE he can raise money for kids with cancer, or fallen heros funds.. A telethon for good things would be nice from these THUGS (Sharpton and Jackson) who only know how to tell me what I can say or not say, because I'm white... WHAT A PILE OF CRAP!!
4-13-2007 @ 6:44PM
MANNY said...
THIS IS SO STUPID!! WHY IS IMUS GETTING FIRED!WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO!WE ARE LAYIN DOWN TO 2 IDIOTS...SHARPTON AND JACKASS JACKSON!
IF IMUS GETS FIRED I WILL NEVER LISTEN AGAIN.
I KEPT MY TV AT MY STORE ON THE IMUS SHOW ON MSNBC...AS SOON AS I HEARD WHAT HAPPEN IT WAS OFF TO ANOTHER CHANNEL...I HOPE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW...
4-12-2007 @ 7:10PM
bob said...
Hire Al Sharpton CBS likes kissing his a**!
4-12-2007 @ 8:09PM
Jack McAlister said...
Used to be political correctness was seen for what it is: spinelessness. People use their voices for a lot of things, among them goofy blurts. But the creepy weasels of the world, like that barnacle Jackson, can suck off a fair living exploiting the college-spawned PC contagious hysteria that passes for journalism while the suits at GE puzzle over strategic rectitude. Imus is OK and the rest of these boneless putzes are briefly hauled out into the light where we can compare them to real human beings. The contrast is appalling, ain't it.
4-12-2007 @ 8:15PM
devron said...
Dennis Miller would be perfect. They should keep the same formatt, politics, a small comedy troup, and someone really entertaining, i.e. Dennis Miller. Imus was a bore, it was those around him that were funny. Miller may be to conservative for MSNBC, but they do have Scarbarough.
4-12-2007 @ 9:20PM
Virginia Taliaferro said...
Finally. Kudos to Jack McAlister for calling a spade a spade. What a load of sewage generated by something so ordinary as an unguarded verbal blunder. And by a guy who does it all the time as a kind of emblem of his personality, a personality that has raised and donated hundreds of millions for people who REALLY have problems. How 'bout firing Sharpton and his ilk for just being pompous, bilious racial leeches, and doing it on purpose.
4-12-2007 @ 9:20PM
Richard said...
I'd recommend the Junkies who do a morning show in DC on WJFK. I believe they are about the only show that took over Howard Stern's timeslot on a Stern station and actually are posting great ratings. Hmmmmm. Proven talent? Naw, CBS would never go for that.
4-12-2007 @ 10:55PM
Nonty Scudder said...
I was watching Imus when he made his joking remark of which is the reason most people watch or listen to him and it was NOT and attact on the girls, just a crazy remark that is normal for him. However I do not agree with the way he talks about our President nor his opinion of the Iraq war. There is a need for 2 weeks off, but NOT TO BE FIRED because a few are pushing for it. THe magarity of people will say keep him on and I am one, forgiveness , and move on. Sharpten, a susposed to be minister turn the other cheek,forgive,-- a poor example of a minister huh?
4-12-2007 @ 10:55PM
Jay Mitchell said...
MSNBC now has a block on my tv and I will get a list of the advertizeres that dropped him, a block on thier products also.
Replace Imus with one of your blacks, like al or jesse.