Don Imus Back On The Airwaves

Radio Personality Starts New Show 8 Months After Dismissal For Racist, Sexist Remarks

(AP)  Don Imus returned to the airwaves Monday eight months after he was fired for racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team, introducing a new cast that included two black comedians.

Imus' lineup of guests featured two presidential hopefuls, Democrat Chris Dodd and Republican John McCain. As he did several times in the days after the episode, Imus condemned his controversial remark last spring and said he had learned his lesson.

"I didn't see any point in going on some sort of `Larry King' tour to offer a bunch of lame excuses for making an essentially reprehensible remark about innocent people who did not deserve to be made fun of," he said.

Every time he would get upset about the uproar in the media, Imus said, "I would remind myself that if I hadn't said what I said, then we wouldn't be having this discussion."

Again, Imus apologized to the basketball players and called the ensuing furor a "life-changing experience."

He talked about what it was like when he and his wife, Deirdre, met with the team, their coach and some of the players' parents and grandparents, for four hours the night he was fired from CBS Radio. The team members accepted Imus' apology that evening.

"I was there to save my life. I had already lost my job," he said. "They said they would never forget and I said I would never forget."

He talked about his experience as a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and said that participating in recovery programs had given him the opportunity to be "a better person ... to have a better life."

"I will never say anything in my lifetime that will make any of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave me," he said. "And no one else will say anything else on my program that will make anyone think that I didn't deserve a second chance."

While saying he had learned his lesson, he added - to applause from the live audience at Manhattan's Town Hall - "The program is not going to change."

His debut, on WABC-AM, completed a comeback that seemed improbable at the height of the furor over his calling the players "nappy-headed hos." CBS Radio fired him on April 12, pulling the plug on his "Imus In the Morning" program that had aired on more than 70 stations and the MSNBC cable network.

Shortly after the new program started at 6 a.m., Imus introduced the cast, which included two black comedians, Karith Foster and Tony Powell. Powell did the sports segment of the show. Also returning was Bernard McGuirk, the producer who instigated the Rutgers comment and was fired as well.

Imus' guests on Monday's show included historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Dodd and McCain, and political analysts James Carville and Mary Matalin.

While Imus pledged to use his new show to talk about race relations, he added:

"Other than that, not much has changed. Dick Cheney is still a war criminal, Hillary Clinton is still Satan and I'm back on the radio."

McCain, who called into the show, answered questions about gays in the military (he said he would continue the "don't ask, don't tell" policy unless military leaders said it wasn't working), the recent surge in Iraq (he said it was doing the job), and the 2008 presidential election.

"You're still my choice. Today. And for the foreseeable future," Imus told McCain.

McCain jokingly said that Imus' support meant more to him than the polls, which show him in the single digits, lagging far behind frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

"Thanks for having me on," McCain said upon signing off. "Welcome back, old friend."

An hour before the show began, more than a dozen fans - all of them white - waited outside Town Hall for the sold-out show. The $100 tickets benefited the Imus Ranch for Kids With Cancer.

David Walter, a fan from Kansas City, said he thought the reaction to Imus' remarks was "overblown" and a "double standard."

"It was a comedy context, a comedy show. He said something that was supposed to be funny and everybody beat him over the head with it," Walter said.

Not far away, Anthony Royal, who is black, was making a delivery in the Times Square neighborhood.

"I don't think it's a good thing," Royal said. "I think that he made a bad statement."

Imus' resurrection is just the latest in his four-decade career. The veteran shock jock has emerged intact in the past after assorted firings, bad publicity and a disastrous appearance at a Washington dinner before President Clinton.

Just three months after he was fired from CBS Radio amid a national debate over his remark, the Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the strongest voices calling for his firing, said Imus had a right to make a living and could return to radio. Sharpton planned a news conference later Monday.

The prospect of Imus' return had outraged critics including the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Organization for Women.

Just before his dismissal, Imus signed a five-year, $40 million contract with CBS. He threatened a $120 million lawsuit after he was fired, but he settled in August for an undisclosed amount of money.

Imus replaces the morning team of Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby on the Citadel Broadcasting-owned station. WABC-AM is already home to several syndicated hosts: Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.

Citadel owns more than 240 radio stations around the country.

[edwestt]

We''re glad the I-Man is back. Hopefully his program''s coverage will expand and more of his fans will be able to listen. Give thanks - the First Amendment Rules.

[getacluidiot]

The only solution is to ignore the fool and let his advertiser''''s know we won''''t frequent their businesses until they renounce him.
Posted by glb1969

Clearly, that ISN''T the solution since I''m sure they already thought about that, and whatever information they have, it''s clear that the support goes far in favor of Imus, and not abunch of hypocritical crying screaming black idiots who think if you even sniff in their direction it''s some kind of racist thing.

I am SICK of these morons, these blacks who want want want, and fail to pay dues in our society. And STUFF that garbage about slavery - jesus, if more of you would quit pretetnding that 400 years ago slavery is now preventing you from doing all you want in today''s society, maybe there would BE a lot less nappy headed ho''s out there, and more upstanding black citizens.

GO IMUS GO!!! Free speech in America!!!!

[glb1969]

What a sad day when a rascist like this is allowed to return to the airwaves to promote hate and intolerance. The only solution is to ignore the fool and let his advertiser''s know we won''t frequent their businesses until they renounce him.

[scarletphd]

YES!! How does it feel, hypocrite blacks of America aka sheep of Al Sharpton), to know that your fat mouths got you NOWHERE ultimately...

If you would ever stop crying about every stupid little thing, and focus on things that were worth a fight, maybe someone in this country would take you seriously.

[yur2stupid]

Always less offensive than Rap.

Up yours you hypocritical big mouth blacks.

[yur2stupid]

*** = T U R D

[yur2stupid]

I hope this is the stinkiest *** in Al Sharpton''s stocking this Xmas!!

Ho nappy headed hos, GO!

[kennedy7955]

I wish the American people would feel half as indignant when someone gets shot as they do when a disc jockey says something stupid.

[jimshea4]

It was good hearing Imus again. We don''t have RFD. Chris Dodd said he found it on the Internet. I couldn''t. I missed hearing Bernie. I guess Imus put a sock in his mouth. I hope he takes it out. I just loved hearing Imus'' black comedians with some cutting edge comedy re: blacks. Imus is a genious that way. It was such a wonderful in your face to Al Sharpton, that disgrace. I hope to hear Curtis and Kuby though. They were really the top, with their team. Imus can be a real phony when it comes to politics, and who he "really supports". Sincerely, Jim Shea4

[gangesdak]

I remember when Gwen Ifel of PBS NewsHour was interviewed by Tim Russert after the Imus incident, she was forgiving to black entertainers who use profanity against whites, but was most critical against Imus. It was then I realized the shallowness of her objectivity. Perhaps that is black world view.

[oleander8]

Blech!

[hillaryin08]

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!

After all that the guy still comes back with a million dollar contract! I love America!

[berniepeders]

There is something not quite right about a man who insists on wearing a cowboy hat indoors, in the city, while doing a radio show, and he''s not a cowboy. It works for bull riders doing interviews, etc., but Imus is no bull-rider. (Though he may be considered a bull-slinger by some). Peace

[downtowner97]

Still less offensive than OReilley.

[proflskeptic]

It is so GREAT to have the I-Man back on the radio. I hope most of his former guests decide to "get over it" and return to the program. Best source of political news on the airwaves. Hallelujah - the I-Man has returned!!

[runningralph]

I guess I''m with republic1776. Something about this guy rubs me the wrong way. I''ve had a lot of bad experience with winos and druggies. Maybe that''s why I don''t care for him. And that''s not prejudice- that''s experience.

[republic1776]

I find his recent move, WAY.... over the top.
He sought out a Black, Jewish, NY City Texas transplant educated in Oxford, to be his sidekick.
Too bad she is not Gay and a disabled vet too!
I find Imus repulsive!

[mejane50]

DON IMUS IS BACK !!!!YEA WELCOME BACK DON IMUS

REGARDS,

THE SKREMSKY''S

[thisandthat1]

Wow! He had a dozen fans waiting outside for tickets to the show! I guess that speaks volumes! LOL