I-May Not Appear on I-Man's Show
The Hotline has learned from MSNBC sources that viewers tuning into "Imus in the Morning" on FBN next week should not the expect to see MSNBC personalities on the show.
Yesterday, the New York Observer speculated that the program most threatened by the Don Imus resurrection would be MSNBC's "Morning Joe," a show that inherited Imus' political-insider format and demographic. Back when Imus was simulcast on MSNBC, reporters and pundits from CBS, ABC, FNC and CNN often crossed-over to call into the show, even though it competed with their own morning programming. Even after MSNBC cancelled Imus, various NBC/MSNBC/CNBC personalities and reporters continued to call into the radio show.
Additionally, Imus said on-air yesterday, "I got an email from [his booker] last night -- she says CNBC won't let Charles Gasparino on so he is cancelling his appearance here because we are on FBN now, how long will it take him to grow a pair so he can come on with us?"
Adding an incestuous take on the two soon-to-be-competing-programs is that Imus' radio show on WABC in NYC actually leads into MSNBC's Joe Scarborough's radio show at 10 a.m. ET on WABC in NYC.
(ABBY LIVINGSTON)
UPDATE: The Hotline is still awaiting comment from the other nets, but an ABC spokesperson says: "We do not have a specific policy on this; however, we will continue to assess all requests, Imus or otherwise, based on their merit."
UPDATE #2: CNN "will have to evaluate on a case-by-case base."
I watched Imus on MSNBC and watched them struggling and failing to find a replacement. MSNBC is inbred, the same faces swapping roles all day long. Imus was gone and probably the same genius who dumped him was responsible for his replacement. This week the Joe & Mika Show, no ratings (?), next week the Mika & Joe Show. If that doesn't work we'll just keep trying every staff combination we have until we reach the Janitor & Maintenance Man Show or vice versa. In my opinion Chris Matthews may be the only person on their payroll who wouldn't give me early morning gastric distress and he was either smart enough not to get involved or not desperate enough to get involved. Either way, Morning Joe is off my Tivo and Imus is on, just a few more days! It takes more than the ability to sit in front of a camera and fill dead air with static to be a star right Mika, "We'll have to look into that". Welcome back Imus!
I'm sure MSNBC will miss you terribly, Dave.
Have been an Imus fan for years and years. He had a great show on MSNBC, and had a good run there. When he came back from his 'hiatus' on WABC Radio and RFD, the show had lost some of its' relevance and luster. Do not like the 'Fox' brand, but will give it a try on FBN. Get all my business news from Bloomberg. No spill over for me. He has Glen Beck on on his first day. If he loads up his show with Fox personalities, And if everyone who works for other networks boycotts him, that will hurt him. I may have to leave him after all these years. We'll see.
It sounds like the only "Fox (other than a business Person) he'll have on are the ones he's always had on. Geraldo, Beck, Hanity Cavuto. He sounds like he's keeping the same rotations where he's allowed to by other networks. FBN is pretty much giving him free reign.
PS (hi Cas :)
Imus is having Debra Dickerson, on his debut week on FBN, hardly a Fox Personality. Professor Dickerson has been in regular rotation since Imus returned to the air waves.
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