Reply #3: My problem with Maddow/Unfiltered

[wyldwolf]

First - I'll give them their props. They were very knowledgeable on the subject matter they covered. Maybe too much, though. Listening to them was like reading a book. Info overload. The average radio listener (yes, even a liberal listener) lacks the attention span to ingest all that they covered.

Secondly, they seemed to epitomize what the Marks on Morning Sedition make fun of with their "Liberal talking points from the Streisand Complex." (Wake up sheeple!) One person I know - a left of center Dem - thought them to be "too left" (no, I can't define that).

Those two things alone put them in the same league with people like Amy Goodman on Pacifica radio - a style I find rather boring and one I felt Air America was trying to avoid.

Additionally, IMO, they came across as cultural elitists. I cringed whenever they made disrespectful comments about certain types of music or artists I like, or movies and TV shows I've enjoyed. Were they trying to make their mainstream listeners feel culturally impaired by touting their superior entertainment knowledge?

This came across at no better time than on their Friday party machine segment when they played music no mainstream listener has ever heard or will ever hear and patted themselves on the back for it. It was music I certainly would never play at my parties unless I wanted everyone to leave.

But the one thing that REALLY turned me off to Unfiltered was they were quick to criticize Democrats. They did it often. Now, I don't feel any Dem is above criticism - but doing so with literally millions listening didn't do anything to build support for the party and get rid of the GOP. Plus, it provided fodder for the rightwingers. One instance in particular, Maddow criticized Howard Dean for something Franken commended him for the very next hour. And on Maddow's final day, she couldn't resist dragging up old Clinton bashes - saying something to the effect that she felt it was time to do so.

Yes, I know these very reasons are why many on DU liked Unfiltered. But I believe they skewed their show to a very narrow audience which is probably why they weren't picked up on as many stations as the other shows. And probably why they were canceled.

Springer is more like Franken and Rhodes. Knowledgeable, but not brainy. He's a professional broadcaster and that helps. One of the early problems with AAR was the unprofessionalism of the staff.

In addition, Springer isn't actually a part of Air America - AAR has picked him up in a syndicated deal. Considering their financial whoas of the past, cutting overhead was a good idea, Unfiltered was the weakest performer, and they get Springer cheaper.