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04/06/2004 Archived Entry: "Random Air America observations: The O'Franken Factor"
Random Air America observations: The O'Franken Factor
Kathryn's laugh gets more annoying every day.
He spends entirely too much time with his dittohead friend.
Whoever does the impression of Bush is horrible.
Just sayin'...
On balance, the John Dean interview is really good.
Replies: 10 people speak up
I don't mind her laugh all that much really.
Yes, he spends way too much time with the dittohead, but he seems to prove him wrong or make him look the fool every time.
I missed the Bush impression I suppose. or was it just THAT bad?
Posted by Jason @ 04/06/2004 02:28 PM NY
At the risk of sounding like a turn-coat, I've started to get a bit tired of AAR and I'm tuning in to NPR again.
Posted by Metropolitan99 @ 04/06/2004 03:23 PM NY
I'm going to hold my judgement of Air America for awhile, as the various hosts fine tune their shows.
For now, I'm having fun listening to the various on-air voices (the ones with the lesser experience) getting their feet wet. I've noticed that the "Unfiltered" folks will sometimes leave mics open during commercials, for example. In the following days, that may prove not to be a good thing.
Randi Rhodes on the other hand, dazzles the network lineup & knows her way around radio with experience to spare...but you guys already know that. She's incredible & hasn't missed a beat since WJNO. I was a little concerned about the O'Franken Factor's transitions between comedy & serious interviews, but it seems like Al Franken is juggling both mediums well. Al has earned his comedic schtick as if he were fumbling & stammering through his thoughts, then coming back with incredible, sobering commentary and I think this makes for unique radio.
If I compared some of the current AAR blogosphere critiques to some of the screwups I've made during my first few weeks at previous jobs, I'd never be able to hold one down.
Posted by radam @ 04/06/2004 05:29 PM NY
That's what I think, radam. I'm giving it time. It has hiccups. But I'm really enjoying Franken and Randi. I love "So What Else Is News". Unfiltered needs a little work, but I think it can get there. Haven't had a chance to listen to Majority Report yet (my DSL is down at home).
I'm certainly not goign to give up on it yet. This thing has legs.
Posted by Jason @ 04/06/2004 05:46 PM NY
Franken is a bit better than I expected. Randi is the goddess of radio.
The big disappointment is Majority Report. This show is excruciatingly boring. If you think Franken's ditto-friend is bad, wait until you hear 9 hours (OK, it was half an hour, but it felt like 9 hours!) of Janeane talking to her right-wing dad.
Posted by richard @ 04/06/2004 10:25 PM NY
Yea, tonight's Majority Report was a little off. But one of their guests didn't show, so they stretched Dad and the "Rise of the Vulcans" Guy. But overall, I think it has become my favorite show. I think it has certainly been FUNNIER than Franken.
Posted by kendog @ 04/06/2004 10:58 PM NY
The woman's laugh is irritating! But if it pisses off right wingers like Bush's "heh heh"... enrages me, then, it's a good thing. Too much time spent agonizing over Bush! There're lots of other liberal issues being totally ignored! Marijuana prohibition and the hypocrisy that surrounds it is one that comes to mind!
Posted by Jack @ 04/07/2004 01:59 PM NY
I disagree, Kathryn's laugh is really good. Franken is funnier than I thought, and their guest line-up are amazing. I though the Bush impression was good, but whether or not you agree, you have to admit that the bit was funny.
Posted by Jeremy @ 04/07/2004 05:22 PM NY
I disagree, Kathryn's laugh is really good. Franken is funnier than I thought, and their guest line-up are amazing. I thought the Bush impression was good, but whether or not you agree, you have to admit that the bit was funny.
Posted by Jeremy @ 04/07/2004 05:22 PM NY
Kathryn's cacophony has got to stop! Has she no sense of decency? She pre-empts half of Al's punch lines like a little school girl begging to be noticed. I've all but given up on her as a viable sidekick--the more she zips it, the better Al gets. And if I hear enjoin a caller to "scoot to your point," I'm gonna explode. With that said, I wish AAR success.
Posted by Matt @ 04/09/2004 11:47 PM NY
