Who on DU was listening when AAR first went on the air?

[Roxy66]

Al Franken was the first show to air on that wonderful day and I'll never forget the minute AAR went on the air....I had goose bumps and started crying. It was amazing. Thank you Al, for being a pioneer, along with Randi and all the other hosts that ultimately were core to saving our Country and waking people up!!!

[chimpymustgo]

1. Damn - I was! It was a thrilling time.

Sadly, I don't listen much anymore. Too busy. Perhaps will tune in now (gotta snow day!).

[NYCGirl]

2. Yes, I've been there since the very first day. NT

[Breeze54]

3. I was there. It was a great feeling!

:) I was excited and laughing and relieved that we finally had a librul news source!!
Not to mention they were talking like I had been talking and saying what I had been thinking!
They were angry about the same things that I was angry about! It was just awesome!!

:woohoo:

[Roxy66]

5. They made me feel sane again.

It was such a weird time. I had the same reaction.

[KittyWampus]

4. Yes, it was/is a beacon in dark times. And since the beginning some DU'ers have crapped on it

nevertheless, AAR is a godsend.

[Roxy66]

7. YES it is. Thank you AAR.

[NYCGirl]

6. Does anyone else remember who was the first guest on the first Franken show?

Clue: He was calling in on the phone.

[Roxy66]

Some one big.....I cant remember.

[NYCGirl]

12. Al Gore.

:hi:

[Roxy66]

16. I was going to say that...damn! lol

[LSK]

15. Al Gore?

I wasnt listening to his 1st show but it was featured on Left of the Dial.

[NYCGirl]

27. Yes! I was listening and that's when I realized that AAR was going to be important.

[Touchdown]

23. I know someone else stuck in the closet.

Bebe Neuworth...playing Ann Coulter. They had locked her in the closet for the whole show, and she was screaming "Let me out!" the whole show.

[Roxy66]

37. that was so funny..lol

[wryter2000]

42. G. Gordon Liddy called that day

So did Ben Stein. I remember the first skit was that Ann Coulter was locked in the green room screaming for jicama.

[Mabus]

53. Wasn't Michael Moore already on air with Franken?

Then Gore called in and Franken asked Moore if there was something he wanted to say to Gore. Then either Gore or Franken said "Michael. Micheal?" We were laughing so hard.

[NYCGirl]

56. Now that you say it, that may be what happened...Mabus, my memory is

not what it used to be. But I remember Al Gore and I remember Michael Moore, I just didn't remember the order!

Edited to add: And I have "Left of the Dial" on DVD — guess I should watch it again!

[Mabus]

58. I'll try to look it up too

For some reason the boss wants me to work. Next thing you'll know he'll start expecting me to show up on time. LOL, as if that's ever going to happen. Don't worry. I work for my husband so I'm in danger of getting fired (even though I have tried).

[Mabus]

66. Found an article that names the guests but not the order of their appearance

And I apologize for the weird formatting.

The O�Franken Factor�s First Show Features G. Gordon Liddy, Ben Stein, and Ann Coulter*

Conservatives Counterbalanced by In-Studio Guests Bob Kerrey, Michael Moore, and Chuck D

NEW YORK, March 31 -- "Broadcasting from an underground bunker 3,500 feet below Dick Cheney�s bunker,� the Air America Radio network hit the airwaves today, with Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher�s The O�Franken Factor. Conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh ducked his much anticipated head-to-head battle with Franken and was notably absent from his show today.

Conservative talk-show host and Nixon spymaster G. Gordon Liddy called to welcome Franken to talk radio while simulcasting from his own radio program. Former Nixon speechwriter and cable TV wit Ben Stein also called in to wish Franken well. Due to a deliberate maintenance problem, Ann Coulter* was forced to spend the entire show locked in an over-heated greenroom. The O�Franken Factor�s in-studio guests included former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, and Public Enemy�s Chuck D, who also co-hosts Air America Radio�s Unfiltered with The Daily Show�s co-creator, Lizz Winstead.

***

Former Vice President Al Gore called The O�Franken Factor �- on his birthday �- to congratulate Air America Radio on its launch while Michael Moore was being interviewed. Franken demanded that Moore apologize to Gore for campaigning for Ralph Nader in 2000. Moore hedged, saying: �We�re really sorry, because you won.�

Radio comedy legend Bob Elliott, of Bob & Ray fame, came out of retirement to resurrect Wally Ballou, the hapless reporter, in a comedy sketch recorded with Saturday Night Live humorist Robert Smigel. In the sketch, Ballou interviews a frustrated traveler, Mohammed Al Hazmani, who is traveling to New York with four friends.


http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince/040331_prince/

[jackster]

8. thanks for reminding me....

I remember how excited I was...

[MoonRiver]

9. Me!

AA and DU have kept me sane throughout the horrible * fiasco.

I love Al Franken, but totally understand his need to focus on the 2008 Senatorial election. He'll make an awesome Senator!!

:loveya: AA

[bullimiami]

10. yup. made me feel sane again is the truth.

[Rainscents]

11. I was there and still am!

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Here! It was a phenominal feeling

The only downside was that I had put off running any errands during the day because it wasn't being carried on any local station in my area...I was chained to the stream! LOL!

[Roxy66]

20. I was steaming KPOJ in Portland. They were pioneers. Thanks KPOJ!!

[Misskittycat]

14. I'm listening to the final show now, and I'm sad he's leaving. n/t

[twilight_sailing]

17. 2nd day.

[Touchdown]

18. I remember day 1

Michael Moore was on his knees begging Al Gore to forgive him for supporting Nader. Then Nader called into Randi and she tore him a new asshole. He hung up on her.

Anybody remember Crazy Hezbollah Lady on Randi about 2 months later. I laughed my ass off with that. Randi had her recorded on one of her instant buttons. "Hezbollahhhhhhhhh"

[Roxy66]

26. OMG!! Yes! HEZBOLLAHHHHH!! LOL!

That was hillarious.....we need a link!

[Roxy66]

33. Listen to the Hezzbolahhh lady here.....LOL

For a good laugh....cazy :crazy: lol

http://wilem.com/rrs/interviews/rrs_20040721_jillinnj.mp3

[feminazi]

43. OMG...that lady was hysterical

I haven't heard Randi play that for awhile.

I was listening to AAR on day 1. I'd been following Randi on WJNO prior to that. I was thrilled that she wsa now national.

[Leopolds Ghost]

67. Love the blatant partisanship (and hypocrisy on the part of Moore)

Why don't DU listen to NPR or Pacifica, only to entertainment-propaganda talk shows, be they left or right? A shallow obsession... Franken was derided for not being shrill and partisan like Randi Rhodes... ugh.

Not a word here on DU when Pacifica was nearly taken over.

[MamaBear]

19. I was.

There have been shows I've loved and shows I've liked less; hosts I've come to admire and hosts I've come to tolerate and ones I've actively disliked.

Long may they talk; and long may we listen.

Sometimes I dream that we're in power and I wonder what they'll all sound like then. One can dream...

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

21. It was a wonderful day, that first day

I have enjoyed many, many hours of AAR since.

I'm sure I'll be verklempft by the end of Al's show today.

[librechik]

22. There--even before, with Malloy and Randi. Go AAR!

[Gold Metal Flake]

24. I was. The stream kept failing and I kept refreshing it.

Randi slapping Nader around was amazing radio.

[myrna minx]

I was. I remember not wanting to leave for lunch because

I didn't want to miss a second. :hi: I'll miss you AL, but I look forward to you representing me in the Senate. :

[dogday]

25. I was there

I never missed a day before the 2004 elections listening to AAR...

[mikelgb]

28. I was

[Marnieworld]

29. Me!

It was so great to have my headphones on at work. Al. Thanks Franken.

[AnnInLa]

30. online

It was a while until we got AAR in our area so I could listen on the radio.

[quiet.american]

31. Hear, hear! n/t

[The Straight Story]

32. What's AAARRR is that the captain morgan show? I call in there a lot myself...(nt)

[renate]

34. I was listening

I was sooooooo happy!

I read a lot of criticism of AAR and some of the hosts here, but isn't it wonderful to finally have a liberal station to criticize?

[Roxy66]

35. Remember his Ann Coulter parody the first day...hillarious

[K8-EEE]

36. I Think Al Opened A Lot Of People's Eyes

absolutely, thanks Al, it was SOOO nice to hear something other than RW clap on the PUBLIC radio airwaves.

[Roxy66]

38. Good luck Al Franken!

[Roxy66]

39. He's ready to announce...coming up after break

[Roxy66]

40. kick

[wryter2000]

41. Waving hand

"And now, broadcasting from 40 feet below Dick Cheney's underground bunker..." I didn't cry, but I did get chills. He went out with a bang today, didn't he?

IMHO, AAR would never have gotten the attention it did without Al. I'm not sure they would have made it through the tough times. As much as I adore Randi and think she's the backbone of the network, few people outside of Florida had heard of her before AAR.

[Roxy66]

44. I'm listening to Randi for the 1st time in a while....missed her

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

45. I was there.

It was a sheer electric thrill to hear him launch Air America.
Can't wait for 2008.

[ronnykmarshall]

46. I had the stream waiting to start.

I wanted to jump up and scream YES .. when they started.

Then Randi ripped Nader a new asshole and I was in LOVE!

[Roxy66]

48. oh..me too. it was great

[ronnykmarshall]

52. I called my huzband and told him to make sure and listen.

I listened live on the net ..... then we get Randi tape delayed on the radio .... Michael kept calling my on the way home "did you just hear that?" .... "is she the best or what?"

[orleans]

47. i remember that morning/day--tuning in early & listening to all this

"revolutionary" music playing for an hour before they officially came on air. it was fucking wonderful! a "liberal" radio station? oh my god! what a concept!!

[Liberal_Dog]

49. I Got To Listen To The First Couple Of Minutes

then the stream crashed.

I did get to listen to the Randi/Nader confrontation later in the day. :)

[Mabus]

50. I was a member of Air Rational Guard

from the beginning. :patriot: We were huddled around the computer waiting for it to come on. It became a part of our daily routine that day.

[Roxy66]

54. Cool... Thanks for your service!

[devilgrrl]

51. I was listening and I'm still listening

:-)

[Gloria]

55. When he came on and announced AAR was ON THE AIR I nearly

broke into tears!!!!!

[jimshoes]

57. Been listening

since day 1. Before that I'd listen to Randi on her Florida station during the day and Malloy on his old IE America stream. I started listening to Franken fairly regularly after Sam moved to mornings. Wish Al best of luck in his bid for public office.

[SeattleGirl]

59. I was.

What I remember most is Randi's "conversation" with Ralph Nadar. :rofl:

[texanwitch]

60. I was having my wisdom teeth removed that day.

I listened when I got home.

That how I can remember when AAR started.

[rockymountaindem]

61. I was

It was my first year of college and I was listening online from Canada.

[Kurovski]

62. I was listening...and I taped it.

Best of luck to Al in his bid.

[Hailtothechimp]

63. Two things I remember about the early days of AAR

The first was that Al's show was called The O'Franken Factor. He got away from that, but I don't know if it was by choice or by threat of legal action (I wouldn't put that past BillO).

The second was that Tim Robbins had a play in NYC called Embedded (I think) and they ran the commercial ALL THE TIME. Air America didn't have too many advertisers back then.

Good luck to Al in his quest. Wellstone's legacy is Al's trump card, and it will be hard for any of the other candidates to overcome. I hope.

[TheWebHead]

64. yup I was

on the web anyways, and it had become apparent Randi's ego had at least doubled from her WJNO days.

[Missy Vixen]

65. I was

I couldn't sleep the night before. I was so thrilled that there might be a voice for those of us who've been silenced for so long.

Julie

[callous taoboy]

68. Right here at this very computer at work (during lunch of course)

[Mugu]

69. And most everyday since. N/T