The reason is simple: Imus' following is too large too ignore. In this age of declining TV ratings for the network news and declining newspaper circulation, media companies want to reach out to his audience, not turn their back on them. Advertisers will eventually return too once they believe that Imus has really learned his lesson. WABC, the New York station that will be Imus' new home, will have his show on a 40-second delay for that very reason.
The fact that Imus' got a second chance and may even get a third or a fourth one isn't surprising considering the terrible shape of the radio business. Radio listeners of the 1980s and 1990s are today's Internet surfers and iPod users. Stations are desperate for talent such as Imus who already have a following. That's why shock jocks including Opie And Anthony will always have a job in radio waiting for them whenever they get fired for saying something offensive.
Satellite radio might have been a good alternative for Imus but you have to wonder whether Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is big enough for Imus and his sworn mortal enemy Howard Stern. Can you imagine them bumping into each other on the elevator? It would have been great talk radio fodder.
Imus has only one hurdle to clear before he can begin his public redemption, convincing Barbara Walters that he is a changed man. That should be easy to do provided he's sober and doesn't sound like a man with a persecution complex. Imus should watch Babs' Whitney Houston interview for pointers of what not to do on a Walters' puff celebrity interview.
As I argued before, Imus deserved to be punished for what he said about the Rutgers team. Many readers pointed out, rightly so, that Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, two of Imus' biggest critics, were not without considerable faults themselves. You can bet that these two publicity hounds will also ring up Imus and offer to come on his show.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
10-15-2007 @ 6:29PM
bdjaran said...
I dont feel what Imus said is wrong becasue he is right . We as a people dont do any better because we call each other those same names and its allrite. But oh no let a white person says the same thing he saw and heard his black friends say to each other that's crossing the line. The Rutgers team was in shock but I bet they all have called or have the music that they listen to calls them the same thing and its okay. IF YOU DONT RESPECT YOURSELF WHY IN THE HECK SHOULD SOMEONE ELSE RESPECT YOU.Yes, I am a young black man with this opinion.
1-11-2008 @ 7:12PM
jamesmorgan said...
Who ever bdjaran is, he is a frickin idiot. What does being called nappy headed hoe have to do with self respect. This is the kind of comment that empowers racist behavior. I joke amungs my family and friends about racial issues all the time! But, never!! would I broadcast my opinions before an entire Metropolitan area if not larger. True this may be his job but it was totally uncalled for. I call my friend a Black Fag all the time but would you think it was appropriate for me to call you a black fag just becaue your black. And after making that comment tell you if you respected yourself you @&%!*^% gangbanging crack dealer then other people would!! I think not..Educate yourself my brutha....
10-15-2007 @ 8:55PM
chopper said...
Im amazed that Ipuss isnt discusted with himself
10-15-2007 @ 10:08PM
F. Goodwin said...
Don't start on Jesse and Al....they go where they are invited while to the consternation of some; their work is appreciated by millions of us - who are, by the way, American citizens. They didn't lose Imus's job for him - and Imus knows that; so - can't we all get along?
10-15-2007 @ 7:09PM
Dave said...
Not to put him in the same area as Imus, but if Hitler had a good show before he went off the deep end he would have probably have gotten his show back after the second world war.
Rating are ratings where and when ever.
People live such boring lives that they need to have someone like Imus around to give them some glimmer of hope.
10-15-2007 @ 7:13PM
MELODY said...
If a good girlfriend teases me in public calling me a b*tch does that give a mouthy opinionated old coot the right to call me a b*tch in public? Especially to a mass of the population?
I am a white female and I am appauled at imus' remarks to the rutgurs womens basketball team. They are hard working c average or above college students not ghetto trash talking ethnic persons. If you dont know the lingo/ slang dont use it!!
10-15-2007 @ 8:56PM
Ray said...
What took so long? Imus, an honest, expienced radio man who reads, comments, and laughs, although at times abrupt and questionable, a genuinely nice man. Lighten up America on the bigotry that is slung around these days.
10-15-2007 @ 7:27PM
John Rivard said...
Imus is no Racist, Sure he night say things that offend people, Although not always the right thing to do. But We all do that at times, Al Sharpie and Jerky Jackson, Now that a couple of Racist S___'s Heads ill say
10-15-2007 @ 7:42PM
amy said...
IMUS IS NOT RACIST. IMUS HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE, AUTISM. SHAME ON THOSE JERKS WHO PUT IMUS THREW THIS. LIKE I SAID MANY TIMES, THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MONEY BECAUSE THEY CANT ACHIEVE THINGS THEMSELVES. THEY NEED OUR HELP, OUR STATE TAXES, EVERYTHING. IMUS WE LOVE YOU
10-15-2007 @ 7:45PM
Michele said...
Oh pleeeze, Howard Stern has said and done alot more outrageous things! And I like Howard, but seldom listened to Imus! I thinks it's all for ratings and publicity!!!
10-15-2007 @ 7:50PM
enough said...
Imus is a racist. He is also a homophobe, a sexist, and a really tiresome egomaniacal old man.
12-02-2007 @ 4:57PM
jean said...
Only four words for you, YOU ARE A IDIOT!!!!!
10-15-2007 @ 8:48PM
john said...
I THOUGHT IMUS WAS IN AA FOR YEARS [YOUR "SOBER" REMARK]. I DON'T GET YOUR "OBTAINING BARBARA WALTERS O.K." - HIS INITIAL MISTAKE WAS GOING ON AL SHARPTON'S RADIO SHOW & FANNING THE FIRES RATHER THAN JUST SITTING BACK. LET HIM BE FODDER FOR EVERYONE INSTEAD OF FACE TO FACE CONFRONTATIONS WHERE HE IS NOT THE KING. AND WHERE IS HE GOING TO FIT INTO WABC'S A.M. SCHEDULE WITHOUT DROPPING SOMEONE??? THAT IS A BIGGER STORY!!!
10-15-2007 @ 8:35PM
BurlJeanD said...
Do not think Don Imus can have his mouth bridled. He has a mind of his own and he is a free thinking person with clout and influence. He also is not stupid and you cannot silence the man for long.
10-15-2007 @ 8:41PM
Doris said...
why are we making our whites afriad to speak up? Is this a free country or not. Are Mother-in-law jokes and wife jokes the only criticismn one can speak now? How long will it be forfor we have to call all the blacks white?
10-15-2007 @ 9:10PM
h nelson said...
He got hung out to dry, first by his so called"friends"
Dood, Biden,Russet,to name a few. His comment was over the top but taken in context and the history of his show it was nowheres as serious as "Al" made it out to be. However it was once agin a chance for Al to grab his cruthes and get to the front of the line and start hanging someone. Maybe he ,Al, should have looked in the mirror oh excuse me he probably did and saw nothing but evil.Good luck to Don in the future and if Al calls do not answer
10-15-2007 @ 9:00PM
NickB said...
Imus is a big bore.His ratings were in the toilet so why all the hype. It's hard to believe they're replacing Curtis and Cuby with him, at least they're entertaining and you can understand what they're saying. Imus is also a coward for going to a phony like Al Sharpton to apoligize. Sharpton himself should be apoligizing to us for his behavior rather than sitting in judgement of others.
10-15-2007 @ 9:04PM
PAM said...
Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are big racist and know one has fired them.I do not care for Don Imus but he has much right to say what he has as some of the black rappers who say a heck of a lot worst.
What he said may have been in poor taste but was funny.What about what all the black comedians say about whites and asian?They can be pretty bad also.It maybe funny if your black but sure isn't if you are white or asian but we don't go yelling to fire them like good old Jackson and Sharpton.I just think they like lineing their pockets.
10-15-2007 @ 9:14PM
Steve said...
I really do not care if he comes back or not. He stopped being interesting to me long ago. He has been doing the same act for thirty years. I never understood the appeal. He gets old after a couple of weeks. Not just Imus but all of them. If I want to hear somebody go on and on about the same crap over and over for years on end I would get married. I suppose he does have a following. If they can make money off of him go for it. We are still a free country. I think anyway. I've not read the fine print in the Patriot Act though so maybe not.
10-15-2007 @ 11:47PM
me said...
SANTA SAYS HO HO HO ALL THE IME AND NONE IS GIVING HIM A HARD TIME!!