Is HBO about to do a hatchet job on Air America?

[quaoar]

Yes, I know, this is from Drudge and thus should be taken with a dose of skepticism.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3aa.htm

HBO is set to air a behind the scenes look at the launching of liberal radio network AIR AMERICA.

The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a director's cut of LEFT OF THE DIAL, a grossly entertaining docu-drama of life on the other side of the AIR AMERICA microphone.

The doubts. The lies. The bounced checks. The heartbreak.

The viewer is taken upclose to witness the ugly business of media ambition.

[xray s]

1. When are they going to do a story on Oxy Rush?

That would be far more entertaining.

[grumpy old fart]

2. The beginning WAS ugly....

but now looking good.....

[quaoar]

3. True

Starting a new business sort of falls into that category of things you don't want to watch -- like hot dogs being made.

[faithnotgreed]

8. thats it exactly nt

[incapsulated]

4. Doesn't look like it, at first glance

I saw a "preview" type of ad for it on HBO, the picture I got from it was it covered all the problems they had getting off the ground, but then the happy ending.

We will have to see.

[Rob H.]

5. "grossly entertaining"?

How about "wildly entertaining" or "engrossing"? Then again, it isn't as if Drudge is a journalist....


Edit: Maybe Drudge used it on purpose--"engrossing" might make the Morans think, "Ew, it'll gross me out, so I ain't watchin' it" whereas "grossly entertaining" probably makes them think, "It's gonna be chock-full o' fart jokes? Why do them damn lib'ruls always go divin' straight into the gutter?"

[NYCGirl]

6. This is from the HBO synopsis of the show:

With Air America facing severe financial problems, and the conservative media reporting every minute of its travails, Cohen abruptly disappears, leaving Goodfriend and the network's executive producer, Carl Ginsburg, in the lurch. Silent investor Doug Kreeger steps up to take a more active role in the venture, navigating the staff through a crisis when employees temporarily lose their health benefits. Eventually, Cohen signs over his interest in Air America, and Goodfriend resigns, feeling betrayed by his good friend.

Ironically, as the media exploits this latest fiasco, the on-air hosts find their groove. Rhodes is thrilled to get her own cover story in the Washington Post Magazine and a billboard in Times Square. Maron has worked through his anxieties, as have Garofalo and Seder. The New York ratings are unexpectedly high - Franken beats Rush Limbaugh, and Rhodes outpaces right-wing rival Sean Hannity. Encouraged, management is able to attract additional investors long enough to keep the venture afloat through November.

In December 2004, a new round of investors brings Air America a measure of financial stability. With 40 affiliates and counting, the voices of the left are now being heard, loud and clear, from coast to coast.
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/leftofthedial/synopsis.html

Here's the HBO page on the program with a great trailer available in Real or Quicktime:

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/leftofthedial/?ntrack_para1=insidehbo4_text

[BrklynLiberal]

7. uh, Who is Matt Drudge?