The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney: Janeane Garofalo Leaves Air America, NPR, O'Reilly Factor

16 July 2006

Janeane Garofalo Leaves Air America, NPR, O'Reilly Factor

SHE'S OUT

On NPR, Garofalo's AAR Exit Finally Confirmed

Though you wouldn't know it from looking at Air America's website, hotheaded actress / comedian / political activist Janeane Garofalo's departure from the struggling liberal talk radio outfit has now finally been made clear.

To get straight answers regarding the network's near-constant personnel departures, it apparently takes an entire village!

The Radio Equalizer first broke this story on June 30th, but the mainstream press has so far ignored it.

Bringing confirmation of Janeane's Air America status was the host of NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" weekend comedy show, which was taped Thursday evening in Chicago.

Featuring Garofalo as its weekly "not my job" guest, the program's host introduced her as a "former Air America host", which she didn't dispute. Thanks to Dr. Scott Drury for the tip!

During the show, she also maintained that she really did recently have jury duty (in a federal court), though we still wonder how someone as opinionated as Garofalo could end up on a panel without at least one side objecting to her presence.

As to why Janeane rejoined Air America Friday for one last show, we don't know, perhaps it was intended to trick Bill O'Reilly ahead of your Radio Equalizer's guest appearance there last Tuesday.

At the time, a company spokeswoman gave FOX News a seemingly confusing answer when asked about Garofalo's fate. Including an indication that she would "return" on Friday, AAR said her future role would be affected by other "professional pursuits".

If you think Air America wouldn't resort to such a sneaky tactic, you simply haven't been following their strange corporate antics, especially over the last year. Quite often, undermining O'Reilly seems more important to the company than keeping their own programs running smoothly.

Even now, Air America is busy confusing its listeners: on the official website, Garofalo is still listed as "Majority Report" co-host, while at the program's privately administered site, this conflicting set of notes appears:

Janeane Garofalo is back!

Henry Rollins, legendary punk rock singer, author, activist, and host of The Henry Rollins Show on IFC TV, currently on tour with The Rollins Band

Steve Clemons, blogger from The Washington Note

Juan Cole, University of Michigan professor and blogger at Informed Comment

More Guest Info For Tonight's Show

Just below that (this must be Sam Seder):

Contest!

Now that Janeane has officially left the show I can finally hold the radio style contests I had always dreamt of but she never let me do!!!

Try and guess how many times we will play this on tuesday's show.

(Monday I'm off- we're doing a book reading at the strand on broadway and 12th.)

Winner gets a free MRR DVD, Hat, Mouse pad, copy of FUBAR and Josh's desk (for real).

Could these guys ever be upfront about anything?

Meanwhile, on NPR, Garofalo sounded more relaxed, comfortable and downright happy than we've heard her in years. At least for the moment, the intense anger and bitterness that has become a standard part of her public appearances seems to have disappeared.

Will shedding the albatross known as Air America bring about a return of the previous, far more appealing Garofalo than the one we've recently seen?

Welcome Viking Pundit and Orbusmax readers!

MONDAY UPDATE: We're told today that Janeane will return this week for a series of "farewell" shows.

Your Amazon orders that begin with clicks here, regardless of what you ultimately purchase, help to support the Radio Equalizer's efforts. Thanks for your vital assistance!

Where's Garofalo: Pete at IHillary, Getting Canned For Dummies, Trump: David A Lunde, top right Garofalo image: NPR

28 Comments:

Hey Blinky,
Had you ever actually bothered to listen to the show whose former host you're so strangely obsessed with, you'd know that Janeane has been discussing her departure from Air America since May. Once again, you're taking credit for "breaking" a non-story.

Incidentally, in that same "exclusive" report you announced the cancellation of The Majority Report. Has that source of yours been flaking out on you? We're also waiting for your promised part 2 of your expose on Randi Rhodes' contract.

It's hardly a surprise that the network is inconsistent in its messaging, given its recent management shake-ups. But to chalk this up as a conspiracy to undermine your poor performance on O'Reilly is downright ridiculous.

By cspank, at 16 July, 2006 14:12
Brian,

Way to go. You were ahead of the curve again on this one with your earlier posts.

It's striking to see the blatant hypocrisy the lefties use in an attempt to spin the truth.

They first fought every suggestion you posted on Garofalo's departure right up to the final month. And now they are singing a different song... Oh, this was just "a non-story".

This sort of public self-humiliation by the wackos must make your job even more enjoyable.

Sweet! Keep up the great work.

Let's see if the #1 distorter of truth, Franken, can be next!
.

By The Benson Report, at 16 July, 2006 17:44
Benson,

Your blog has as many readers as Air America has listeners - none.

By none, at 16 July, 2006 18:18
Elle Monica,

And your point is..?
Comparing a personal blog to AAR's site is a bit of a stretch.

If you had checked, you would have seen my site has comments turned off, to avoid the numb-nut comments.

By The Benson Report, at 16 July, 2006 18:47
They first fought every suggestion you posted on Garofalo's departure right up to the final month.

Uh, Benson, if you look through the comments of Brian's recent posts you will not find one single liberal denying her imminent departure.

The ones who were paying attention knew, and you'll also notice that there wasn't a lot of mourning. Maybe a bit of rumbling at The Majority Report blog, but next time you might bother to check your facts before calling out the "wackos" for "self-humiliation." Talk about hypocrisy...

By cspank, at 16 July, 2006 19:21
Congrats Brian. Besides staying on the Air America story you seem to have attracted trolls as well that like to call you names. :)
Good story on Garofalo. She probably got tired of not getting paid or perhaps she actually has a conscience and wanted some money to go back to the Boys and Girls club.
Keep up the analysis and the information on the dirty money backed Air America crew.

By Skeptic, at 16 July, 2006 19:30
Cspank, Janeane has never on the air mentioned leaving the network, she did talk about not being on the payroll, which she didn't elaborate upon.

By Brian Maloney, at 16 July, 2006 19:39
Benson,

Since only your mother reads your blog why don't you save the little bandwidth your site uses and take up a new hobby such as lawn bowling.

By none, at 16 July, 2006 19:59
Where should we start with this one?

Your Donald Trump graphic says that Garafalo was fired. Are you sure about that? Did she have a contract she was working under, or had her contract already expired?

Perhaps if you listened to the Majority Report, rather than relying on "tips" from other people, you would be more informed.

Regarding her Jury duty: you question whether she could actually ever get on a jury without one side or the other objecting to her presence. If you listened to the show, you would know that she was on a grand jury. I guess she was able to do that, since just one side was presenting evidence. I think you could do this to Brian, since you are used to just looking at one side of things.

You propose the theory that Janeane appeared on the Majority Report friday for "one last show" to trick Bill O'Reilly, ahead of your big guest appearance. What is your theory as to why Janeane is supposed to be on the Majority Report at least three days this coming week? Who do you think she could be trying to fool, Michelle Malkin?

Having listened to friday's Majority Report, I can say that the "conflicting set of notes" from the Majority Report website was completely accurate in it's description of the show. I guess accuracy in reporting confuses some people.

By Ezsuds, at 16 July, 2006 21:29
Janeane hasn't really been involved with the show for about a year.

By qw3rty, at 16 July, 2006 22:26
More hilarious comedy from "Poker Face" Maloney.

The Radio Equalizer first broke this story on June 30th, but the mainstream press has so far ignored it.

BZZZZ. Garofalo "broke" it back in May. And the very idea of anyone (much less the MSM) taking your fantasies seriously is simply too funny for words. The Bullshit Report's butt-kissing drivel comfirms your dishonored place on the wacko fringe.

As to why Janeane rejoined Air America Friday for one last show, we don't know, perhaps it was intended to trick Bill O'Reilly ahead of your Radio Equalizer's guest appearance there last Tuesday.

Everyone else knows, you delusional moron. You were simply WRONG. AGAIN. Why do you persist in humiliating yourself like this time and time again?

But please don't stop. Continue wrapping all that tin-foil around your empty skull and regurgitating your pathetic delusions to the brainwashed right. It is enormously entertaining.

By HeadHunter, at 16 July, 2006 22:26
Wrong again, Brian. Janeane dropped plenty of hints and discussed leaving the network several times since mid-May when she first mentioned that she was no longer on the payroll.

I find it interesting that despite your bizarre obsession with Air America (the only reason you'd be invited on O'Reilly), you're too lazy to actually listen. You have to be careful when using anonymous tips, blog comments, and Google News alerts as the only sources for this sad, little blog.

By cspank, at 16 July, 2006 22:54
Congrats Blinky, your non-story,That Janeane is leaving the show, first "reported" by Janeane Garafalo on the Majority Report on May 19th,Reported by you at the end of June, earns you a reprise of your "mention" in TIME MAGAZINE! Remember, we know about this article because Brian features it in his bio!

Let's take a walk down memory and tinfoil hat lane, shall we:

Time Magazine

July 7, 1997

HEADLINE: AUSTIN, NEVADA;
CONSPIRACY, U.S.A. IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WHERE THE HIGHWAY IS EMPTY, IT ALL FITS TOGETHER

Let's skip to paragraph 9 of 10 paragraph's in the story:

Along Highway 50 the distance between towns is bridgeable only by marathon road trips and the most powerful AM radio signals. The big station out of Reno is KOH, which promotes itself with the slogan "From the High Sierra we take down the High and Mighty." The drive-time talk jock (out here it's always drive time) is the inflammatory Brian Maloney, who makes Rush Limbaugh sound like Alan Alda. Maloney tends to open his monologues with the question that prefaces most conspiracy rants: "Don't you find it interesting that...?" For Maloney, who preaches that President Clinton is an "agent of influence" for the Chinese, there seems to be no such thing as a meaningless coincidence or a truthful politician. When a caller nominates Charlton Heston for Speaker of the House, it is not a joke.

Congrats wrko and inside radio- your substitute host
and "writer" has Zero Credibility and is a total JOKE!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.

Made you blink!

Oh and Malonely, nice try with banning me!

By samseder, at 16 July, 2006 23:01
HeadHunter said...
More hilarious comedy from "Poker Face" Maloney.

The Radio Equalizer first broke this story on June 30th, but the mainstream press has so far ignored it.

BZZZZ. Garofalo "broke" it back in May. And the very idea of anyone (much less the MSM) taking your fantasies seriously is simply too funny for words.

___________________

So tell us which mainstream media outlet has covered the story.

And what are you going to say when Majority Report is cancelled as Brian has already reported?

I read on MRR's blog that Sam Seder has alluded that he might be looking for a job in a couple of weeks.

By Brett, at 16 July, 2006 23:24
It is a real shame I have to read the comments to get the real truth regarding the departure of Janeane Garafalo.

P.S. Pleae don't ban Sam Seder. Someone needs to expose the lies.
I suppose with your redesigning of your website soon you will probably implement a different comment system and will be able to suppress the truth like a good Neocon puppet.

By none, at 17 July, 2006 00:07
The Majority Report was never even aired on the Cincinnati AAR affiliate. From what I've heard of her its just as well they didn't.

I listened to her the first week she was on and she came across as kinda a nutcase. I'm surprised she lasted this long.

If AA dosn't start getting some more moderate hosts on there they will definately lose any of the independents that listen.

By ohio, at 17 July, 2006 09:11
janeane is leaving. wow. who really gives a shit?

maloney, is the reason that you only report on meaningless radio workings because you are afraid to tackle REAL issues? i'm fairly certain that the looming wars between the Middle Eastern countries, as well as the missile testing in North Korea are far more important to people these days.

But I guess that's what you righties don't get. go ahead and bicker about AAR while we tackle the real issues. and while you're at it, lose sleep over gay marriage and flag burning while we try to figure out how to disarm North Korea without any troops because our president has them all fighting in Iraq's civil war.

By hardcore conservative genious, at 17 July, 2006 09:14
Good riddance to boring rubbish.

Those lib talkers are really tearing up the Arbitrons just like they said they would. There was a demand for this kind of radio in America, right? After all, it was called "The Majority Report," right?

Where is the "majority?"

Reminds me of the Spinal Tap scene where DeBergy (Reiner) asks Ian the band manager if the band's inability to fill larger venues is a sign of their waining popularity. He replies "Oh no no...no. I just think their appeal is becoming more selective."

By Good Lieutenant, at 17 July, 2006 09:16
A little off topic, but a sentence in this Washington Post article caught my attention.
The sentence, in the third paragraph:
Several alliance donors are negotiating a major investment in Air America, a liberal talk-radio network.
What's more interesting is the criteria for receiving investments earlier in the story: ...willing to submit to its extensive screening process and its demands for secrecy

By Rich in MT, at 17 July, 2006 10:57
Why don't you write about the Marc Maron Show getting canceled? No Air America Fans even noticed Janeane's official annoucement that she is leaving the show because she's been gone for the passed year. And if they get rid of The Majority Report, it will be to change their schedule around and give Sam Seder a new show. This is a non-story.

Marc Maron had a great show and he got screwed by Air America for the second time now. And his show is canceled because they couldn't agree on money. His last show for Air America was Friday. A lot more Air America fans are upset about that.

By qw3rty, at 17 July, 2006 12:30
The reason B.M. didn't say anything about Marc Maron leaving is because B.M. is not a real journalist and doesn't actually "report" on anything. He just likes to drop little bits of innuendo here and there.

Firetruck!

By @whut, at 18 July, 2006 00:16
Reminds me of the Spinal Tap scene where DeBergy (Reiner) asks Ian the band manager if the band's inability to fill larger venues is a sign of their waining popularity. He replies "Oh no no...no. I just think their appeal is becoming more selective."

No, listening to right-wing radio is akin to choking on vomit .. actually choking on someone else's vomit. -- Nigel Tufnel

Good Lieutenant, you are such a useful tool, quoting something that the Spinal Tap writers likely take pride in. Harry Shearer, himself a member of the Spinal Tap trio, has been running a syndicated weekly radio show for the past twenty years, playing to an extremely selective audience. To the people that enjoy his humor, they will seek it out. Just because you don't get how people can enjoy a good dose of weekly satire, doesn't mean it shouldn't have a place on the radio dial.

What a knob, what a small green stain globule of a knob you are.

By @whut, at 18 July, 2006 00:47
"wht" =

"What a knob, what a small green stain globule of a knob you are."

Waaah!Waaaah! You're a doodeyhead! Don't insult Air America!

Is that the best AA listeners have got? Enjoy the last year and a half of your boondoggle of a "network."

Your mash-the-keypad response is de facto proof that AA's appeal is becoming more selective - hence, the entire AA audience is here at Radio Equalizer on a regular basis to fling verbal feces at their percieved enemies. All five of you.

"you are such a useful tool, quoting something that the Spinal Tap writers likely take pride in. "

Damn straight. It got your panties all up in a wad. Now go back to bed, child. Put on a stream of the Al Franken show if you need help dozing off.

By Good Lieutenant, at 18 July, 2006 04:44
Boy am I confused. I'm stuck in the middle here. I sometimes enjoy listening to AAR and would sure hate to see it disappear, but certainly am not above noticing that fact that the hosts are not really very good at being talk radio hosts.

An example is Marc Maron..that guy was just plain painfull to listen to. Yes, he had moments where he was actually passing on some good information, but I estimate that to be about 10% of his showtime. He simply wasn't good enough to appeal to a wide enough slice of the radio listening market. You gotta wonder when its 'special' when they broadcast live from some coffehouse in New York that no one cares about and features live music from someone no one cares about.

You have to look at where these 'hosts' got their radio experience before getting on board. Most are/were comedians. They also never had to appeal to local talk radio markets, you know, the ones where you have to actually build up a listening audience. An audience that includes righties, lefties, and those in the middle.

Until they start to include the middle and stop pandering to the extreme left portion of their audience, their days and numbers will continue to fall.

Thankfully, there are still a few hosts that are decent enough to remain on AAR.

By ohio, at 18 July, 2006 10:24
You sound like a reasonable fellow. If I may submit a proposition, see what you think. Forgive me for being general - I'm just trying to get the basic point across.

There is not a national market for liberal talk radio for two general reasons.

The first is that the major news networks, the vast majority of popular musicians, TV personalities and Hollywood celebrities (the denizens of TV, movie and music popular culture) are decidedly liberal, and thus have a constant and large platform from which to get their "message" out. Their market has already been saturated many times over. Their message has been getting out for decades, and everyone knows what the left thinks by now. Its not new or fresh (and is why conservative radio "filled a gap" on the market).

This leads to my second (three pronged) proposition - left-wing ideas are simply not as popular in America as many liberals would like to think. Sure - there is a sizable lib monopoly TV and movie content, which are highly influential media(however flawed this is).Once you get outside of a major city and the "glitz" of Hollywood, there's a reasonably good chance that you aren't going to find large swaths of Blue-state liberalism.

Much of AA's content revoloves around a)trashing Republicans (gee, that's never been done on TV before), b) being rather "down" on America and traditional "American" values (this does not play well at all in the heartlands), and c)like you mentioned, there is a lack of compelling radio-centric talent advocating for the cause. As some of the AA hosts are slowly learning - making the transition from TV or movies(shallow, cold media) to radio (a long-form, hot medium) is a great deal harder than Rush and Co. make it seem. Don't forget - Rush started out small, and as the butt of jokes to many liberals, but it turned out that he was voicing the views of a great many people who felt that their views were not beig represented on TV or in Hollywood. Hence, Rush and Co. spent the better part of the 90's (during a Democrat presidency) building on that premise. They turned out to be right, and it took liberals about 15 years to realize truly how influential a medium radio could be. Unfortunately for AA, it looks to be too little too late.

Thoughts?

By Good Lieutenant, at 18 July, 2006 11:15
"Thoughts?"

Huh?

By @whut, at 18 July, 2006 22:39
"Huh?"

How substantive.

Anyone else?

By Good Lieutenant, at 18 July, 2006 23:02
"The first is that the major news networks, the vast majority of popular musicians, TV personalities and Hollywood celebrities (the denizens of TV, movie and music popular culture) are decidedly liberal.."

Probably true, but that dosn't mean that their views cannot agree with any particular Joe Citizen. Do you really think their soapbox is converting anyone to a point of view that dosn't already substantially agree with it? I doubt it.
..........................

"This leads to my second (three pronged) proposition - left-wing ideas are simply not as popular in America as many liberals would like to think."

Also probably true. 'Liberal' ideas are never in the majority. Dosn't mean that the view is wrong though. Thats why we have the Bill of Rights isn't it? I think liberal ideas are not really opposed to conservative ideas, I liken liberal ideas as being a reaction to percieved excesses of the majority ("Conservatives" in the current times).
...........................

"Much of AA's content revoloves around a)trashing Republicans (gee, that's never been done on TV before), b) being rather "down" on America and traditional "American" values (this does not play well at all in the heartlands), and c)like you mentioned, there is a lack of compelling radio-centric talent advocating for the cause."

Yep, I can agree that their air time is truly filled with Bush bashing. But that is what their listeners like to hear, not necessarily 24/7 though, which is why they are lacking in overall quality and rating numbers.

To me, what it boils down to is not that the 'liberal talk shows' message or slant is wrong; no, its their hosts inability to have a show which consists of more than essentially Bush Bashing. I blame the hosts, not the message.

The only reason there is an Air America is because there was simply zero talk shows expressing the opposing point of view of the majority.

By ohio, at 20 July, 2006 21:00

The Radio Equalizer: Brian Maloney

16 July 2006

Janeane Garofalo Leaves Air America, NPR, O'Reilly Factor

28 Comments:

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