Al Franken's "co-host" has got to go.

[Artemis Bunyon]

There's a point at which Devil's Advocacy becomes counterproductive, and she passed that point long ago.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

1. Sorry - love her, can't back you up there

[TexasBushwhacker]

6. I like her too

Unless you can suggest a better replacement, I think she does fine.

[Born Free]

32. Sorry - love her, can't back you up there"

I feel the same way, but didn't really like her until I watched the show on Sundance and could see her and Al work together.

[skylarmae]

2. Who would be better?

Any suggestions? Don't badmouth AAR, please!!!!!!!!!!

[Artemis Bunyon]

4. I liked the shows when she was on vacation. Al performed well alone.

x

[951]

3. No way I like her she should stay

Atleast she keeps the facts straight can you say the same about anyone on RW radio?

[951]

29. Its amazing what some of you people will agree with

If Artemis Bunyon said Kerry was horrible and Bush owned him last night, its sad to say but you would see a few people agreeing with that and its just sad.

Here's a tip "Artemis Bunyon" if you don't like her turn off AAR because she isn't going anywhere.

[Artemis Bunyon]

35. Lighten up, friend.

I have an opinion, nothing more.

[ocean girl]

5. I agree - she bugs me.

I can't stand to watch her on the TV show either. He needs to team up with someone like Randi or Jeanane!

[expatriot]

7. I disagree.... she's exactly what the show needs

I love Al to death, don't get me wrong. He's the best, but I like how she reigns him in when he gets carried away with his slapstick comedy, she brings the show back on message and provides the disclaimer to Al's getting carried away that might otherwise turn the undecideds off.

[Catt03]

10. bugs me too

she can be too much.

BUT...a lot of listeners love her.

[Bombtrack]

25. She's one of the main reason that the comedy doesn't work on the show

There "bits" are unlistenable and unfunny for the most part because she's got no comedic ability and really not a good sense of humor.

[russian33]

8. She's much better interviewer than Al is

[bagnana]

44. She is a better interviewer. But a bad comedienne

Al tends to go off on tangents and not let people finish their thoughts. She gets him back to the subject. On the other hand, she is bad at comedy. But I personally think the comedic bits bite. Just my opinion. I turn off the oy oy oy show and others -- I think Al is funnier when he is not doing voices.

[onehandle]

9. Wrong. Without Katherine, the show would be pegged.....

....as a left-wing O'Reilly. She lets him say whatever he wants, but tempers him with a wink.

They're perfect together. If you want all red meat, listen to almost any other AAR show.

[Artemis Bunyon]

26. Pegged as a left-wing O'Reilly? It already is! There's no avoiding that.

So they might as well go whole hog and be the total Left O'Reilly package... except, without all the lying and crap.

[onehandle]

27. Lying IS the difference. It's no O'Reilly. nt

[Bombtrack]

28. What the HELL are you talking about?

Nobody even knows what the hell O'Reilly is like on the radio, because he's a failure on that medium, so he wouldn't get pegged with a comparison nobody is going to get. Secondly, O'Reilly also has a useless female "co-host". Except she doesn't hi-jack the show from O'Reilly. She's basically O'Reilly's go-to "Colms". But I don't want that either from Franken. He should have a co-host who enhances the show. She doesn't do that.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

11. She bothers me much less than she used to

I thought her devil's advocacy was more a 'good cop bad cop' counterpoint to Al, and her mom-like scolding really annoyed me. But now it's just part of the bit between them. And I've never had a doubt about her liberalness.

[Book Lover]

12. can't agree - she's the radio professional

I love Al, don't get me wrong, but Katherine is a necessary check on his potential to ramble. Taste-wise, I love her, too.

[951]

15. Thank You for being one of the voices of reason in this thread

[Book Lover]

16. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Thank you as well, but if you think this is a flaming thread, just wait ;-)

[951]

23. and Thank You!

Its a pleasure to be part of DU

[zaj]

13. There HAS to be someone better than her who can keep Al in check...

... and pick up the journalism slack.

[proud patriot]

14. I dissagree Katherine is Great n/t

edited because I can't spell :dunce:

[MuseRider]

17. Not listening today

but I like her. I usually only get this show at night on Sundance and I really like her.

[benddem]

18. Katherine is GREAT

n/t

[NervousRex]

19. You would have loved her show...

Mid-Morning on Minnesota Public Radio...NOT! Oh..the soothing sound of fingernails on a chalkboard. I don't care for her, and haven't really listened to Al's show for that reason. She also used to placate rightwingers on Mid-Morning so I am not surprised to hear that she is pulling the same shit on AAR.

[Robin Hood]

20. Katherine is not only a hottie but she is also too kewl.

She is a smart hottie with a sexxy voice and laugh.

[0007]

22. A rocking chick, I like her!

[Selwynn]

21. PUH-leeze

Catherine is fab-u-lous! :)

[Bombtrack]

24. THANK YOU. She brings that show down like freaking Kryptonite

It's still enjoyable, because of Al. But if she went mute it would really improve the show. She's acts and sounds like Al's frigging negative, worried, overprotective mother, not his affable friend or colleague which she should or would be if she contributed positively to the show. When she was on vacation it was a breath of fresh air.

[soleft]

30. Katherine Lanpher rocks!

She's crucial to this show. And I love her laugh!

[hiphopnation]

31. go to sleep

[Artemis Bunyon]

34. Go to sleep?

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[skypilot]

33. You blasphemer!!!

No soup for you.:)

[robbedvoter]

36. She keeps me there when Al infuriates me with his flakiness

I also miss Sue Ellicott on Morning Sedition who was providing a bit of journalistic skills to the show.

[n2mark]

37. Great

I think she is great!

[Beacho]

38. Nope

I love Kathrine, she actually keeps the show on track and fills in the gaps from Al's lack of experience in radio.

[BAPhill]

39. She makes up for his lack of Radio experience...

but I notice he's getting better at the radio biz.

[gatorboy]

40. I love Katherine! She plays a great straight man(woman!)

Randi on the show wouldn't be a great idea. She works much better alone. Together, Randi and Al would completely clash.

[Eric J in MN]

41. Katherine is great.

You're bashing her without giving one example.

[Cleita]

42. Would you like her better if she was a man?

I detect some latent sexism here. Fer chrissakes she has a master's degree in journalism. In the media where professional journalism is in short supply, don't ask to dump the few of them around that have a voice. She keeps Al from going overboard, which is good for Al and the show.

[KamaAina]

43. Does he need a replacement? I'm in NY next week.

No, really, I am. I even used to do college radio, so there.

[johnfunk]

45. Katherine Lanpher is a terrific "straight man"...

... and the sketches Al, Katherine and Meg Ryan did in San Diego are some of the funniest radio I have heard since Bob and Ray retired.

Franken also keeps reminding me of how much I liked the first decade or so of SNL, when Franken, Michael O'Donoghue and Tom Davis were writing the political satire -- and Lanpher's a great foil.

[burythehatchet]

46. If I may chime in

I would like Katherine Lanpher's voice to be the last thing I hear when I go to sleep and the first voice voice to wake me in the morning. I guess what I'm trying to say is, will you marry me Katherine?

[onecitizen]

47. and she should take him with her!

Sorry. But I just don't care for the guy. I mean I don't hate him. I listen to him some cause he gets great guests but then he won't let them talk. Keeps interrupting them. Kind of like the know-it-all-kid you went to school with. "Me teacher! I know! I know! Ask me!" jeeezzz.

[Cleita]

48. Imagine interrupting people on their own show.

Waaa!!! Have you ever listened to Chris Matthews?

[onecitizen]

49. Oh yes........

don't like his rudeness either.

It's just my opinion that if you ask an expert to come on your show you should at least give them the courtesy of letting them talk without interuption....at least for the first sentence. I'm just sayin'......

[WillyT]

50. Will Someone Rid Me Of This Tiresome Thread !!!

Oops... that didn't help.

:bounce::bounce::nuke: oops!

[eyepaddle]

51. Lanpher stays

C'mon now....you probably thought Bud Abbott didn't bring muvh to the team either.

[n2mark]

52. You

sound like CBS and Dan Rather.

[Liberal_Dog]

53. I Like Katherine

But her laughter sometimes annoys me a little bit.

[kentuck]

54. I think she's great...

She has a wonderful laugh and sense of humor.

[billie_]

55. Katherine is the perfect complement to Al...

and her laugh is the F'ing best....

[Dr Fate]

56. I like her as the nagging straightman. I vote no.

n/t

[Must_B_Free]

57. I LOVE KATHERINE LANPHER!

Absolutely love her voice.

She sets up Al's jokes by the way, she plays the straight man.

Very important for her to set up the opposing argument so it acn be torn down.

Al plays the same role himself against David Siroda - "Sure you mean that..." Then Siroda gives the punch line.