Imus In The Morning Affiliates, Nappy-Headed Hos Flap, Rutgers, Advertisers

THE OTHER SHOE

Will Affiliates Drop Imus?






*** See Below: DJ Fired For Saying "Nappy-Headed Hos" ***

Following news that a number of "Imus In The Morning" advertisers have pulled their spots from his show, the radio industry is now waiting for the other shoe to drop.

If it somehow avoids outright cancellation, will radio affiliates dump his program? In newspapers across the country today, speculation was rampant.

Had this happened to just about any other host, his outright sacking would have been a given by now, but Imus has two things going for him: a history of decent revenues and a few programmers who have a strong emotional attachment to the I-Man.

Why did a low- rated show with few stations outside the Northeast attract so many advertisers? It has long been a mystery, but may have something to do with Don's connections to powerful elitists in politics and business. In addition, the MSNBC simulcast provided key exposure that kept him from fading into the sunset.

As for emotional support, there are a few people in radio who will defend Don Imus until the very end. Why? The answer is simple: he's long been a stealth libtalker, one who will suck up to John Kerry and call for the death of Dick Cheney, all without the overt ideological tag affixed to Air America's talkers.

Some of these corporate suits will cite his "charitable work" as a reason for keeping him on the air, though even that has been controversial for Imus. By the way, he's hardly the only host raising money for good causes, as Rush Limbaugh has long demonstrated.


So far, none of his radio affiliates have announced plans to cancel the show. But that could happen at any time, even today. In the meantime, stations may be waiting to find out whether "Imus In The Morning" sees its plug pulled at the network level.


NEW: A DJ has been fired for repeating Don Imus' now- infamous phrase on the air! From All Access:

Morning Jock At WSBG Canned For Imus Inspired Remark

NASSAU BROADCASTING Classic Hits WSBG/STROUDSBURG morning host GARY SMITH has been fired over a stunt that used the same phrase that got DON IMUS into trouble. According to a report in the POCONO RECORD, listeners heard SMITH use "I'm a nappy-headed ho" as the "Phrase that Pays" on the air TUESDAY morning.

COO RICK MUSSELMAN released this statement, "GARY SMITH was terminated from employment at WSBG today for comments made on his show yesterday. GARY used 'Nappy-haired ho's' as 'the Phrase that Pays' yesterday. GARY has been the morning person at WSBG for 17 years. We are all saddened by his lack of judgment but after reviewing the tape there was little choice but to terminate employment. We also carry IMUS on sister station WVPO and will make a determined on the status of IMUS' show during the next two weeks."

How could they fire the jock and then decide to keep Imus? It seems his cancellation there is now a given.

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