Sojourn of Ben

Well, when I saw this article, I couldn't resist doing some sort of journal on it. I've been interested in this particular topic because I used to listen to "Imus In The Morning" on the radio while I went to Jazz Band. I never took anything he said seriously, and I wasn't surprised when I heard that he had been dropped from the radio, but now I see that he is back. The representative for WABC (the radio station that has hired Imus) says that Imus will be ready to go on the air for Dec. 3rd. Reverand Al Sharpton has stated that if Imus doesn't show any corrections in his behavior, There will be more of the protests that drove Imus off the air in the first place.

To me, this raises a few questions in my mind. First of all, Has Don Imus changed his ways? What type of publicity is this going to get? Why are these people hiring Imus if he has such a conreversial past? Has Imus been punished enough for what he has done? The answers to these questions will soon be revealed. Whatever the outcome, this radio show is going to be highly anticipated throughout the country by people on both sides of the issue.

This article was written by David Hinckly of nydailynews.com the link can be found below.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/11/02/2007-11-02_untitled__imus02m-1.html

ARTICLE

Don Imus is officially back. Now the real fun begins.

Less than eight months after he was blasted off national television and radio for cracking that the Rutgers women's basketball team looked like "nappy-headed ho's," the 67-year-old Imus has signed a reported multiyear deal to return to morning radio on WABC (770 AM), starting Dec. 3.

Longtime fan Sal Selletto from the Jersey Shore hailed the news as "an early Christmas present," but the Rev. Al Sharpton said Imus needs to show he has changed his act fast if he doesn't want another round of the protests that drove him off WFAN in April.

Imus remained silent, as he has since April, fueling anticipation about what he will say.

"I think his intent is to let it all out during that first show," said WABC program director Phil Boyce. "It should make for very interesting radio."

Imus has reinvented himself several times over 40 years in radio, moving from a "shock jock" show to a focus on topical issues. He has overcome drug and alcohol addiction and weathered multiple controversies, such as the night he insulted President Bill Clinton from the dais of a Washington dinner.

"He'll be bigger than he's ever been," said Michael Harrison, editor of the trade magazine Talkers. "Being at the center of a huge national story like this has rejuvenated his career, at a time when he needed it."

Imus' 6a.m-10a.m. WABC show, which will be syndicated nationally, replaces the successful Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby show. Boyce said, "The opportunity to get a host like Imus is just something you can't pass up."

Boyce said Imus should bring more advertising to WABC. Imus' show reportedly earned up to $20 million at WFAN - almost as much as all of WABC.

Sharpton, who successfully lobbied advertisers to drop Imus in April, said if Imus does not provide "assurance ...against returning to his former vile and biased behavior," critics would return to advertisers "to ask what has changed since they withdrew support."

Boyce said he is "not terribly worried" about the impact of protests, which also have come from the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Organization for Women.

Imus "knows he made a mistake, he's paid for it, and I don't think he'll repeat it," Boyce said.

Imus will be joined by his longtime sidekick Charles McCord. Boyce declined comment on whether controversial producer Bernard McGuirk will be part of the show. There have been reports McGuirk will return at first in a nonspeaking role.

Another indicator to watch, says editor Tom Taylor of the trade sheet radio-info.com, will be which of Imus' A-list guests return. "I think with both guests and advertisers, long-term, he'll be fine," Taylor said.

There was no word Thursday on a TV simulcast, though there have been discussions.

Boyce said Sliwa will remain at WABC in an unspecified slot. Kuby said he was told Thursday not to come in Friday.