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.
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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
10-25-2007 @ 10:53PM
STEVE said...
Bring him back before he decides to retire! He raises more awareness and money for childrens cancer and autism in one show, than most people can in a life time!
Has Al Sharpton ever apologized for the Tawana Brawley scam? He certainly never paid his financial obligation!
11-02-2007 @ 2:32PM
richard said...
the majority rules, its your world white folks.as a 53 yr old black male. you [whites] have made my exisitence on this earth miserable. your system is not geared for a black man what you have constantly done. is gear me for failure,and because i would not BOW i have paid a price.let imus back on air,whites are made of teflon. and can do no wrong. as w/ the duke players that groped and refused to let the stipper leave isn't that unlawful restraint. how can you sue and win millions and never face a trial. those players were only charged. which was the right of the law to charge none of them stood trial, and they got major money.blacks get arrested daily and charged but to be able to sue w/o going to a jury trial only in america and your white justice system which is going to destroy black people.
1-11-2008 @ 4:56PM
sandy said...
Richard, you are given the freedom of speach.But you want to take it away from the white person.What gives? There is not one word you could call Imus that would get you fired. Not even the "N"word. You are free to say anything to a white person that you want to, Why does not Imus have the same rights that you do?
11-02-2007 @ 5:06PM
Ray said...
Imus is very intelligent, and the apology, was kind of, not what he wanted to do, but more of a status quo. Doing it just as step to clear himself, if it were ever needed to continue his career or not. Lord knows he doesnt have to, he is Loaded, and a smart investor.
However, Blacks in America, and I say this in a Generalized way, but I believe all statistics, at least honest ones, will show that they are way behind the rest of civilization. Especially in intelligence, and civilzed. They are more or less Barbarious. They rob a guy, and the money isnt enough, they have that kind of hate, to blugently put a bullet in his head as well. They as a whole are lazy. Always wanting handouts, Govt., Jobs, etc....but do not possess the work ethic to go with it. Now, they look for bigger handouts....law suits, for a racial slur. Free Millions.... I dont think they will ever evolve into civil human beings, like the rest of the world, its just in their nature. And the slavery bit..their own people sold them out, to anyone who wanted slaves. They weren't just taken for free. Also many slave owners, treated their slaves very well. Others didnt. I dont condone that. But things will never change with Blacks, as long as Govt. continues to give them rewards, for having kids, and not fathering them, and just getting everything for nothing. I dont see much genuine love, for one another, or even family, in Black community. I know there are few exceptions, but not enough. They have along road ahead of them...and should be listening to their own people, like Bill Cosby, and Charles Barkley, who practically echo my statements. But, Imus and Bernie McGuirk made Sharpton look like the Idiot he is, in the debates and verbal dialog tat took place. Even Sean Hannity, made Sharpton look like a complete idiot. There were white girls on Rutgers too.....the apology was fine with them...till Sharpton, and Jesse Race Baitin Jackson became involved.
But its sad....you just cant make a statement against a Black, in any sort of a way, without being deemed a racist...Imus jokingly calls his wife, the Green Ho...because of her being so into Green Peace, Organic Produce, Vitamins, and the like. The word Ho, was going on in Imus Radio programs for years....just when Nappy was attached, it became a Serious Offense.....He will be back......
11-03-2007 @ 3:56PM
C. Parker said...
Thank you "4Runner", I couldn't have said it better. I have missed Imus and am so glad he's coming back. I hope I'll be able to get him on a station out of Norfolk, VA. I was watching the show the day that comment was made and it was clearly a joke, not mean-spirited or racist, just a joke for God sake. Welcome back Imus and Charles!!!!!
11-06-2007 @ 4:48PM
Rhonda said...
Yeah !!!!! I can't wait for Imus to return.
TV will be next I hope. My only concern is will I be able to get his show in North Carolina??
I loved his show and his equal opportunity jabs at everyone. Its an act folks - lighten up. I haven't watched MSNBC since April. MSNBC will put Rosie on the air but not Imus?????????? Hmm --- idiots.
Bring him back to Tv - if people don't want to watch - don't watch. Believe me I never watch anything that has Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson on it and I don't consider myself a racist at all - I just don't like opportunists no matter what race they are.
Can someone let me know if I can get his radio show in NC?????
12-10-2007 @ 8:25AM
Terry Price said...
Rhonda,
I'm in NV and listen on the internet at 3-5:30am PST
For your area he will be on 6-9:30am.
Here is the link:
http://www.wabcradio.com/article.asp?id=122648
This is great, I can check my email while listening.
Terry
12-02-2007 @ 10:13AM
sleslie said...
Who cares about Imus. When does Dog come back?
12-10-2007 @ 8:20AM
Terry Price said...
I have requested my cable company Cox Communications carry RFD-TV because of the Don Imus program.
12-10-2007 @ 8:25AM
Terry Price said...
I have contacted my cable company (Cox Communications) and inquired as to when they would carry RFD-TV just to watch Don Imus.
Can't believe it was last April that my cable carried Imus in the Morning.
So very happy to see the real news once again.
12-10-2007 @ 8:26AM
Terry Price said...
Listen to Don Imus on-line
http://www.wabcradio.com/article.asp?id=122648
1-11-2008 @ 4:15PM
sandy said...
I think it is time white people woke up and realize that their freedom of speach is being taken away from them.(And do something about it.) There is not a word in this world that a black person can not call a white person.And they do do their name calling. It's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH and it should work both ways. There is not one black person that would lose a job over anything he/she called a white person. I think it is time we let our goverment know that we are feed up with this shit of them screwing with the white persons freedom of speech!!!!!!!!.