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This morning, NBC News President Steve Capus appeared on the Today show to discuss the immediate ending of radio shock jock Don Imus's MSNBC simulcast. Per TVNewser, Capus said:
There's no question that his program has had provocative conversation and interesting conversation, deep conversation with thought leaders and political leaders through the years. But it's also had the other element. At some point you have to say 'enough is enough.' This went so far over the line that it was time.Capus also mentioned the most vocal critics he heard from were from NBC itself and said "why have an integrity policy unless you're going to enforce it?" The NBC News chief has denied that the reason for the firing was because advertisers were fleeing, which we sort of buy - given that the show made $50 million in revenue, you could probably find some less prestigious advertisers to fill the ad time. FishbowlDC has been liveblogging Imus's radio show this morning, and Imus talks about hyprocrisy, MSNBC being unethical, and a lack of support from Harold Ford Jr.
On the media circuit: The Reverend Al Sharpton also appeared on the Today show to discuss the firing. Last night, he and Reverend Jesse Jackson gave a press conference at Rockefeller Center outside the NBC offices last night, and Jackson appeared on Keith Olbermann's MSNBC program. (Olbermann made it clear that his bosses told him not to comment until NBC made a decision, and he emphasized how he thought Imus's remarks were out of line.)
And yesterday, before the firing, Al Roker, whose blog entry asking that Imus be fired received a lot of attention, interviewed Whoopi Goldberg and Spike Lee, who quipped that Imus should get the film right (Imus mistakenly referred to Do the Right Thing, not School Daze, when saying "jigaboos"). Goldberg said that culture made hatred and put-downs more mainstream while Lee emphasized Imus had to go. Lee also applauded the advertisers who dropped out from Imus's show, saying he would buy $100 at Home Depot, buy Bigelow Tea, and Proctor & Gamble products.
In the expected ironic twist, Imus's ratings are very high after this incident. The NY Times spoke to Bo Dietl, "security expert who is a frequent guest on Mr. Imus’s show," who said that Imus was “very down, very upset about what occurred with MSNBC.” CBS says they will keep Imus's show, but one CBS board member, Bruce Gordon who is also former president of the NAACP, has asked that Imus be fired. If Imus is fired from CBS's WFAN, rumors are the Mike and the Mad Dog would move to the Imus slot.
Top photograph of the Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton at a Rockefeller Center press conference discussing Imus's firing last night by Amit Gupta on Flickr; lower photograph of Al Roker, Spike Lee and Whoopi Goldberg by Richard Drew/AP
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This would have been better if Imus lost his job three or six months from now because his ratings were in the toilet. Would have made a bolder statement that society doesn't approve rather than a media conglomerate caving to celebrities and "activists". If Imus loses his job then Sharpton and Jackson should have lost their jobs and influence back in the days of Tawana Brawley and "Hymietown".
nappy headed hos, anyone?
May God bless you Cal Ripken Jr., God bless you Staples, God Bless you GM.
and many more blessings to Bigelow Tea, and many more who should not be ashamed to join the great companies above.
There is a time to say enough is enough and it's been too long since someone stood up.
Too Long.
To further prove how absolutely ridiculous the double standard being applied to Imus (and anyone white who use terms that black people use regularly) is….
I ask you to Google the name of Whoopi Goldberg’s production company.
Or I can save you the trouble….
One HO Productions
Just like the use of the “N Word” by the black community this is a silly, absolutely ridiculous controversy.
Much ado about nothing. Silly media frenzy.
Does Whoopi remember supporting her very close friend, Ted Danson, when he dressed up in blackface?
that is mad funny! Whoopi called into Opie and Anthony to vent and they said why didn't she do the same thing when her Boyfriend at the time Ted Danson dressed in Blackface and she hung up! Love the black hypocrites. They get on the bandwagon so fast and off it just the same. They only have one issue and that's black people. The most racist people on earth are black kids. Take a asian kid to a black school and record what comes out of their mouths.
God Bless you Whoopi and Ted Danson.
None for Imus and crew.
Mike and the Mad Dog in morning drive? Chris Russo at 5:30 in the morning? That'll be the day.
I love how Al Roker, who made a lot of money being the Today show's in-house minstrel all these years, suddenly remembered his race.
wow, these Imus posts really bring out the racists and misogynists. double standars, i think that Jackson and Sharpton already recieved lots of deserved criticism and backlash for their comments which occurred how many decades ago?? btw, i'm South Asian-american and I can tell you, that South Asians can also be pretty darn racists, whether it's African Americans or Indians, just a tad shade darker than them...
And once again proving that "liberal white people" are closet racists too. I love/hate reading posts like this because it reminds me until white people "get it", I should watch my back. I don't deny there are some Black people that are a little too sensitive, I'm less so because my parents are foreign, but looking through that outside/in lens my entire life, I know they are for a reason. You think Black people don't know what White America thinks of us? We do, even us "model" Caribbean, Latin and African ones.
imus has done more good with his charity work than jackson and sharpton combined.
God Bless you post #3
Perhaps Mr. Al Roker also thought it was time to stand up for something. It has been too long.
It's due time. No More.
i think that Jackson and Sharpton already recieved lots of deserved criticism and backlash for their comments which occurred how many decades ago
Not enough. These two do nothing to help black people. they are self promoters. remember how long Jackson "retired" for after his kid was disclosed? All of two weeks. It's a double standard. It's that simple.
And #10 . You think Black people don't know what White America thinks of us? you looked like a retard for presuming to know what about 200 million people think and that we all think alike. I can still think one or two particular blacks or African Americans are acting like a-holes and I'm not a racist.
HymieTown
white interlopers
I think radio and their shock and hate value is now on its' last legs.
In the 1960s, WMCA with the "Good Guys," WABC with their "All-Americans" and WINS were top flight rock-and-roll stations.
Their humor was hip, but not mean, there were contests and the connection to the listening audience was respect, not dealing with them if they were idiots.
Mel Karmazin changed everything for the worst.
I don't believe it when the pundits, survey men and consultants say that the public would never support these old time formats.
TRY IT!!! You'll be shocked to know that it does work!!!
You know, I read these comments and am amazed that those of the blind vision, and the unthinking, still run for the "apples and oranges" comparisons as soon as a racial "bomb" goes off. Being "convicted" in your own heart will cause one to do that. Instead of facing up to the fact and being open enough to talk about what is the MAIN cause of the deep division of peoples in the good ole USA, those of devious mind and heart pull out every defensive "weapon" they can muster; in most every case the very popular "apples and oranges".
What is in YOUR heart people?? Barry Goldwater once said "In your heart you know I'm right".
The blind never even consider taking a minute, an hour, a day, or a week to use their "mind's eye" to walk in the shoes of the "others".
Fortunately I have been around long enough to recognize both covert and overt racism;even in those who do not understand that they themselves suffer from it. So this all gets to be "ho hum" after a while even if it makes one angry enough to choke the crap out of someone. I know what is being said and what will be done and what ultimately will come of this "flap", because I know the failures (people)who are running things. I've observed the social/political leanings of this US of A for MANY a year. I understand where this nastiness of racism comes from in both white and black, and there is not the space to explain it in his forum. Besides, the people who need to hear it already have their ears and eyes closed.
'diamond merchants' with 'the blood of innocent babies on their hands'
Gregory Mason? What on earth are you trying to say?
Imus didn't say "jigaboos"...his on-air sidekick did.
You don't play a mean pinball, "english please"
but I'm sure you're deaf, dumb and blind.
Another reason free radio and free tv is dying a slow death.
Anyone ever heard any racial slurs on The Sopranos?
Good riddance MSNBC.....
I watch MSNBC, sometimes even during the day.
I watch Lock block, dateline, and countdown. I watch Scrubs and 30 Rock. I watch the Nightly News with Brian Williams. and, many others do too, since it's the number one rated network news.
Donate at www.wfan.com
The 18th annual Radiothon began Thursday and runs through Friday. It was one of the reasons the start of his suspension from CBS was delayed.
Tony Gonzalez, supervisor of the Radiothon phone bank, said volunteers were getting about 200 more pledges per hour than they did last year, and most callers were expressing support for Imus.
By midday, $967,793 had been pledged, according to a display board at the Hard Rock Cafe, where the Radiothon was moved Thursday morning. Last year's Radiothon raised a total of $2.9 million for three charities — Tomorrows Children's Fund, CJ Foundation for SIDS and the Imus Ranch.
everyones a racist. Its just to what degree. Anyone who claims otherwise is a liar to boot. Free speech is free speech. 'nuff said.
Just goes to show you how divisive some people are in America. nuff said.
How some people are so cold hearted, bitter and vindictive. It never ends will it?
From the creation of said country and prior to it, this country was all about division.
"nappy headed hos" is not racist—even a little bit. At best it's insensitive...
Al Sharpton and his racist cronies (Alton H. Maddox* and C. Vernon Mason*) ruined a man's life over a false crime. does anyone rememeber Tawana Brawley? Sharpton still has yet to apologize for his racist tirades and false accusations without a shred of evidence against Steven Pagones.
*C. Vernon Mason is a lawyer who was disbarred following his involvement in the Tawana Brawley hoax.
*Alton H. Maddox, Jr. is a lawyer who was disbarred following his involvement in the Tawana Brawley hoax.
Here's something racist Shartpton said recently about Barack Obama: "Obama never did anything for the community, never worked with anybody from the community, nobody knows the people around him, he's a candidate driven by white leadership."
"Driven by White Leadership"
Sharpton needs to admit his racially motivated bullshit and stop harrassing and slandering people.
I have watched IMUS for years and he is very entertaining... But he is an egomaniac who should be canceled. Not for what happened with the " nappy headed ho's" comment but for his higher then thou attitude about his so called charity "the IMUS tax deductible vacation ranch". He uses 80 child cancer patients at a cost of $3 million/year to justify a 4,000 acre IMUS disneyland for him, his wife and his son that he constantly glorifies. This translates to $37,500 for each week a cancer patient spends at his vacation home. Would the child be better served with getting the money for treatment or research for a cure????
In 2005 the state of New Mexico tried to go after him for his miss use of charity money and tax fruad. IMUS used his media STICK to stop the investigtion.
My hope is that he is weak enough to attack and he will finlly be caught in this theft of US tax dollars.
It's about freaking time. I hope all entertainers will now be held accountable for their hate speech.
Chris Rock, Dave Chapelle, Paul Mooney, Wanda Sikes, Carlos Mencia, Steve Harvey, everyone on Def Comedy Jam or Kings of Comedy new show, Mos Def, Snoop Dog and so on, YOU'RE NEXT!!!
I too am concerned. Hopefully this puts all on NOTICE.
that means you, Mike and the Mad dog racists.
Chris russo, you're on notice. You won't cross the line soon but someday you will. with all your frothing a slip of the tongue will get you. You're low class just like all of your LI inhabitants with your racist redlining policies.
The only Pro who knows this game is Howard stern, love him or hate him, he himself admitts he knows how not to cross the line. that's why he gloats when Imus is in trouble.
How some people are so cold hearted, bitter and vindictive. It never ends will it?
By that I hope you're talking about Sharpton and Jackson because I haven't read a single racist comment here. Nor has anyone defended Imus.
You can think whatever you want to think you race baiter. Look within yourself.
Only God can judge. Only the Lord can judge you in the end. The Lord loves all, saints and sinners but it is he who will judge in the end.
But if there's nothing there, The Lord will not even consider you. but he will because he died for your sins.
Imus should have questioned Al about his referrring to Jews as "Diamond Merchants" during the crown heights riot
When's the last time Sharpton or the "Reverend" apologized for anything? Tawana Browley anyone? Haven't heard of a big apology for running Steve Pagones' name through the mud.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
and thank god for wikipedia lest we forget all of these details!
exactly, steve pagones has a lot of repenting to do.
He too, should follow the gospel.
You can think whatever you want to think you race baiter. Look within yourself.
Only God can judge. Only the Lord can judge you in the end. The Lord loves all, saints and sinners but it is he who will judge in the end.
But if there's nothing there, The Lord will not even consider you. but he will because he died for your sins.
WTF?!?!?!?
I'm just waiting for the day for Sharpton to have the balls to stand up against blacks that have no problem demeaning themselves and their race. He's a damn hypocrite.
Well, CBS has pulled the plug. Imus fired and not even allowed to continue his radio-thon - the reason they didn't suspend him immediately to begin with.
Say whatever you will about the man, but that's a classless move on CBS's part. CBS to cancer, SIDS and blood-diseased children: Drop Dead.
Nice.
CBS announced they will not be carrying the Imus show. He's outta here. Take that Chris Russo.
Perhaps this is a start for real change. No more ranting and raving radio.
Everyone is now on notice, whether you're the morning Zoo or Hot 97. This stuff has got to stop.
Thank YOU Les Moonves. Very classy move.
Very fitting of the Tiffany network. I wouldn't worry about the radiothon, racists will flock to it to show their support.
However, the GOOD people will contribute Millions to it for charity and not in support of Imus.
See who are the major contributors to the charities and you'll see they contribute more than the entire radiothon.
Thank YOU CBS.
imus for president
This is a joke in so many ways. It's all about hypocrites, those exploiting the situation and now we see the cowards finally appear. Things will not get any better because of this and that's the biggest joke. Tomorrow I will make a contribution to the Radiothon in support of the cause and for support of Don. If you are behind him, do the same at WFAN.com.
I remember a time when Whoopi Goldberg supported her good friend Ted Danson did the black face routine . With that said who is she to criticize "Anus" for his egregious comments? It also comes to mind that "Whoopi Goldberg" is not her real name . She was born " Karen Johnson" If I'm not mistaken . Some of you may ask 'What does her real name have to do with my comment' ? If this person was such a high standing member of society then why did she change her name in the first place ? Seems a bit shallow to me, Anyway "Whoopi" has no right to criticize anyone not with her past ! Spike's comments were based on what "Anus" said, Yes he's wrong if he used any commercial "Pull" that he might have too oust "Anus" . It's his opinion to make a comment and he did by blasting this guy .
no doubt that imus should have been fired but sharpton, jackson and company are shit slinging hypocrites.