Will the Cranky Cowboy of Radio be able to get back on the horse that threw him?
Or, is he still smarting enough from the controversy which some thought would end his career to actually change his style.
Some career ender, huh? He sues CBS Radio over breaking his contract and settles for $20 million dollars. He gets a 6-month vacation, and then comes back to what I heard reported on TV as "an 8 figure contract".
Someone please attack MY radio show for something I said so I can do better.
I was always told in Radio the best way to get ahead is to get fired and the Don Imus issue demonstrates that very clearly.
But, back to the horse. All of Imus' critics will be listening and scrutinizing every word he says just waiting for an opportunity to stage another attack. How can Imus not temper himself and will it make any difference in his act?
Can he modify his style enough to avoid trouble yet satisfy his fans?
How deep will the bed of egg shells be over which he will have to walk?
I read WABC-AM will have a 40-second delay on his show. A 7 or 8-second delay is standard on many stations to bleep out a single profanity or two but 40 seconds! Why, 40 seconds - that's enough time to hotline the head of Citadel Communications, get him out of the shower, let him dry off, give him a cup of coffee and run a phrase by him just to see whether he’s comfortable with it or not.
Alright, not quite enough time for that - but I think this makes Don Imus officially one of the most dangerous mouths in America!
It's the Profits, Stupid!
While some Imus fans may be fawning over Citadel’s decision to hire Imus and casting it as the company which stood up for freedom of speech - or at least the freedom to be offensive in your speech - this is misguided.
This is not about higher principles. Citadel hired Don Imus because he will make them plenty of money. They understand there is a market for his brand of morning show and have calculated just how much black ink he will bring to the company’s profit ledger.
What will be interesting is to see who attacks Imus - and/or his sponsors first - and why.
High Noon at 6 a.m.
The return of Don Imus in the morning will be like "Shootout at the Is It OK to Say That Corral". We know "nappy headed" and "hos" are definitely out of his vocabulary. But, what else - what other words, phrases, expressions, pieces of satire, parodies, skits, or bits will be considered too offensive to be broadcast in America - at least by the next group just waiting to be offended by a program they probably don’t even listen to.
If Imus shoots his mouth off once-too-often, will the Cranky Cowboy again be sent to "Get the Boot Hill"? If the bullets start flying will Citadel stand behind him or run for cover?
We won't know this until sometime after high noon beginning December 3 when Imus and his critics begin the next showdown.
