More proof that high ratings do NOT equal intelligence.....

[KevinTheOmnivore]

FAIR-L
Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
Media analysis, critiques and activism

ACTION ALERT:
GE, Microsoft Bring Bigotry to Life
Hate-talk host Michael Savage hired by MSNBC

February 12, 2003

The latest hire by the cable news network MSNBC-- co-owned by General
Electric/NBC and Microsoft-- is Michael Savage, a radio talkshow host
noted for his unabashed bigotry. Savage is scheduled to have his own
weekly one-hour show on MSNBC beginning in March.

Savage routinely refers to non-white countries as "turd world nations" and
charges that the U.S. "is being taken over by the freaks, the cripples,
the perverts and the mental defectives" (San Francisco Bay Guardian,
9/20/00). In a recent broadcast he justified ethnic slurs as a national
security tool: "We need racist stereotypes right now of our enemy in order
to encourage our warriors to kill the enemy," he explained (San Francisco
Chronicle, 2/6/03).

"Turd world" immigrants are a frequent target of Savage's anger: "You open
the door to them, and the next thing you know, they are defecating on your
country and breeding out of control" (Oregonian, 4/24/02).

At times Savage's arguments echo the conspiratorial scapegoating of the
white supremacist movement: "With the [Latino] population that has
emerged, since they breed like rabbits, in many cases the whites will
become a minority in their own nation... The white people don't breed as
often for whatever reason. I guess many homosexuals are involved. That is
also part of the grand plan, to push homosexuality to cut down on the
white race" (San Francisco Bay Guardian, 9/20/00).

Commenting on the "Million Mom March" in favor of gun control (which he
dubbed the "Million Dyke March"), he dismissed organizers' reference to
American children killed by guns (5/15/00): "They’re not kids, they’re
ghetto slime... they’re the same kids that are in Sierra Leone toting
AK47s."

Misogyny and homophobia are staples of Savage's show as well as racism. In
his book Savage Nation, he argues that Sen. Hillary Clinton and Supreme
Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor have "feminized
and homosexualized much of America, to the point where the nation has
become passive, receptive and masochistic."

Discussing student volunteers distributing food to the homeless in San
Francisco, Savage declared that "the girls from Branson [school] can go in
and maybe get raped... because they seem to like the excitement of it.
There's always the thrill and possibility they'll be raped in a dumpster
while giving out a turkey sandwich" (San Francisco Bay Guardian, 9/20/00).

In announcing the hire, MSNBC president Erik Sorenson described Savage as
"brash, passionate and smart," and promised that he would provide
"compelling opinion and analysis with an edge."

A recent episode of the channel's Donahue program (2/10/03) featured a
full-hour, one-on-one interview with white supremacist Jared Taylor. Does
MSNBC believe that promoting hatred is a way for the struggling channel to
build an audience?


ACTION: If you'd like to express your opinion on Michael Savage hosting a
show on MSNBC, you can write to the cable channel directly.


CONTACT:

MSNBC Feedback
mailto:feedback@msnbc.com

Erik Sorenson, MSNBC President
mailto:Erik.Sorenson@MSNBC.com

As always, please remember that your comments are taken more seriously if
you maintain a polite tone. Please cc fair@fair.org with your
correspondence.

----------

[FS]

It must be nice thinking everything that's bad is someone else's fault.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

We're just jealous that the Liberals/Left doesn't have their own Mike Savage...

I'll bet Ronnie LOVES this guy.

[Anonymous]

the world is seriously fucking disgusting

this was on msnbc's site:



MSNBC signs Michael Savage

Conservative host and author’s TV show premiers in March




Feb. 12 — Conservative talk radio phenomenon and best-selling author Michael Savage has been signed by MSNBC to host “The Savage Nation,” a one-hour weekly issue-oriented opinion show set to air live on Saturday afternoons at 5:00 pm ET.

THE FORMAT OF “The Savage Nation” will be based on Savage’s number one rated afternoon drive time radio program, which is heard on over 300 stations, including New York’s WABC and San Francisco’s KSFO. The new show, which premieres on MSNBC in March, will originate from San Francisco. It will feature penetrating and provocative commentary and opinion from Savage, mirroring his #1 New York Times best selling book “The Savage Nation.”
“Michael Savage is brash, passionate and smart,” said Sorenson. “His conservative point of view adds to the kaleidoscope of perspectives already heard on MSNBC — a place where a range of voices have their say, without any one dominating the channel itself. ‘The Savage Nation’ will anchor our Saturday afternoon program schedule and become destination television for those looking for compelling opinion and analysis with an edge.”
“I look forward to continuing on television what has made me so successful on radio,” said Savage. “People love my show because of my hard hitting style combined with intelligence and wit. Those who listen to me say they hear a bit of Plato, Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, Moses, Jesus, and Frankenstein. I’m looking forward to reaching new viewers while giving my existing audience more of what they have come to love and expect, including a look into my very private studio.”
An independent-minded individualist, Michael Savage fits no stereotype. He attacks big government and liberal media bias, but champions the environment and animal rights. Trained as a scientist, he holds Master’s degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Epidemiology and Nutrition Science. Along with the best selling book “The Savage Nation” and CD “Best of The Savage Nation,” he is also the author of the book “Herbs That Heal” and 17 other books. His radio show airs nationally on the Talk Radio Network and attracts one of the most loyal listening audiences in radio.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Originally Posted by Doopa

“People love my show because of my hard hitting style combined with intelligence and wit. Those who listen to me say they hear a bit of Plato, Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, Moses, Jesus, and Frankenstein.

Those who listen to him probably continue to hear those voices, among others, once they turn OFF the radio.

An independent-minded individualist, Michael Savage fits no stereotype. He attacks big government and liberal media bias, but champions the environment and animal rights. Trained as a scientist, he holds Master’s degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Epidemiology and Nutrition Science. Along with the best selling book “The Savage Nation” and CD “Best of The Savage Nation,” he is also the author of the book “Herbs That Heal” and 17 other books. His radio show airs nationally on the Talk Radio Network and attracts one of the most loyal listening audiences in radio.

I think the "nut job" stereotype works. :/

[Miss Modular]

Those who listen to me say they hear a bit of Plato, Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, Moses, Jesus, and Frankenstein.

You know, I don't know if I'd want to hear all those voices at once.

[Malevolent]

That guy is such an ass. Just pick up his book and look at the titles of the friggin' chapters. Absolute donkey.

[FS]

The sad part is that it's probably going to work. Next to the people actually buying into this sort of tripe, there's a horde of people who'll be drawn to this out of sheer indignation.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

You're absolutely right. I LOVE listening to this guy, because he's a complete lunatic. The entertainment value is priceless.

But that's not the point. The scary thing is that this guys ratings will somehow equate intelligence and political understanding. He'll be brought on as a guest on all the talk shows, his opinion will be noted as "expert." This is the sad state of American intellectualism.

[Anonymous]

Real news is dead

[sadie]

that guy sounds funny as hell. too bad so many people will get all fired up agreeing with him. kinda like an archie bunker rerun.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAHGJZCMCD.html

Feb 25, 2003

MSNBC Axes Phil Donahue's Talk Show After Six Months on the Air
By David Bauder
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - MSNBC fired Phil Donahue on Tuesday, abruptly ending the veteran talk show host's return to television after six months of poor ratings.
Donahue's final show will be Friday night. The news show that precedes him on the air, "Countdown: Iraq," temporarily will be expanded to two hours to replace him.

"We're proud of the program and we're disappointed that the show was not able to attract the viewership we had hoped for and expected," said Erik Sorenson, MSNBC president. "We thank Phil and his staff for their dedication, commitment and passion."

Donahue's office referred calls to his agent on Thursday, and he did not immediately return a call for comment.

The move was not a surprise. MSNBC hoped "Donahue" would provide a liberal counterweight to Fox News Channel's competing "The O'Reilly Factor," but the ratings started poorly and didn't improve.

MSNBC tried to tweak the show in November, putting Donahue in front of a live audience in New York instead of in a New Jersey studio, but it made little difference.

The political talk show format has yet to prove - and may never - that it can support a liberal voice, said Andrew Tyndall, head of ADT Research, a television news consulting firm.

Donahue's chances weren't helped by MSNBC's impatience, he said.

"They're very quick to cancel shows," Tyndall said. "Right from the start, they haven't settled on a format and let it grow so people can find it. If it's not working in a few months, they cancel it and move on to something else."

MSNBC also has sought a younger audience than its cable news rivals and the hiring of Donahue, 67, went against that strategy. "Anyone who's under 25 doesn't remember when his old talk show was on the air," Tyndall said.

During this month, a "sweeps" month in which ratings are watched closely to set advertising rates, "Donahue" averaged 446,000 viewers. O'Reilly drew 2.7 million viewers, up 28 percent from February 2002, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Connie Chung's CNN show that debuted shortly before "Donahue" averaged 985,000 viewers this month, Nielsen said.

"Countdown: Iraq," with Lester Holt as host, is one of the network's few success stories, occasionally inching past CNN to second in the cable news ratings.

Donahue was a nine-time Daytime Emmy winner for his syndicated talk show, which began in 1967 and aired nationally from 1970 to 1996, paving the way for dozens of such shows to follow.

He began his MSNBC show July 15 with a panel discussion on whether the United States should try to oust Saddam Hussein. On Monday night, with Rosie O'Donnell as guest, they talked about the same topic.

The show's failure is "a footnote" to Donahue's career, Tyndall said. "His legacy is unharmed," he said. "He invented an entire genre of television."

AP-ES-02-25-03 1612EST
-30-

[Miss Modular]

You know, I heard an advertisment for Mr. Savage's show in my car today. He said something to the degree of "I am always right". Right then and there I wanted to break the car stereo.

[mburbank]

See, I don't think a 'feel good' democrat like Donahue could have a succseful TV talk show.

A firey, funny populist could. Say if Jim Hightower was meaner, or if Al Franken (who's writing and performance I love) had comedic bones in his body that weren't so sarcastic.

If Franken could somehow aquire Ralph Naders incredable near photgraphic recall or if nader could capture Frankens Likability.

I seriously belive a voice like that is coming.

[Miss Modular]

<littlegirlgiggle>
I just found out that his real last name is Weiner.
</littlegirlgiggle>