The Randi Rhodes Show
Encyclopedia
The Randi Rhodes Show is a three-hour radio program in the United States hosted by Randi Rhodes
combining live interview, call-in and commentary with a progressive
bent. The show is currently syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks
. The show had previously aired over the now-defunct Air America Radio
and Nova M Radio
networks. The song "Bounce Your Boobies
" is known for being played at the beginning of the show on Fridays. According to Talkers Magazine
at the start of 2008, Randi Rhodes is the 40th most important talk show host in the United States in their "Heavy Hundred" 2007 list.
for many years before moving to New York
for the launch of Air America Radio
on March 31, 2004. The show ran for four hours until September 2006, when it was reduced to three hours.
In an appearance on Larry King Live
following her departure from Air America, Rhodes explained that the reason for her suspension was not really about the stand-up performance, but rather a ploy to force Rhodes to renegotiate her contract. Rhodes alleged that unless she renegotiated her contract to remove a right in her contract that did not allow Air America to fire her, she would never be permitted to return to the air. Air America suspended her until a settlement could be reached concerning the contract which was still in place and had an additional year to run. In the interim, Air America management decided to conduct market research to assess her value to the company. According to Rhodes, it was Air America who issued the press release that called attention to the video of her performance in San Francisco simply as a way to gauge her audience loyalty and her value to the network. According to Rhodes, Air America soon asked her to return to the air, with an offer of more money but still holding to the condition that she had to amend her contract. Rhodes refused and left Air America because of the stalemate over the new contract.
On April 9, 2008, Air America Radio CEO Charlie Kireker issued a press release stating that Rhodes was leaving the network, in the aftermath of a brief suspension following a controversial live appearance in San Francisco. One of her affiliates, KKGN in San Francisco, California
, immediately announced that they would continue airing her show.
announced that The Randi Rhodes Show would join its radio network, which also syndicated The Mike Malloy Show. During the first broadcast on April 14, 2008, Rhodes went into detail concerning the events surrounding her suspension. She described what happened as "a great radio story and I've heard some great radio stories in my day." The Randi Rhodes show returned to the airwaves on April 21, 2008 on 23 affiliate stations, compared to Air America's 60 affiliates. As of May 5, 2008, the show was heard on 28 stations, including XM 167, the Air America channel on XM Radio.
She also reiterated in this same episode that the issue with Air America was primarily about Air America's new owners demanding her contract be amended to remove her walk-away clause, and that another issue was her high salary.
However, Rhodes stopped broadcasting on Nova M on February 3, 2009, with shows hosted by Nancy Skinner until the closing of the network. A statement from one of the Nova M network owners appeared on their official website, but offered no explanation, claiming terms of Rhodes' contract. The Randi Rhodes Show Web site was temporarily inaccessible on February 16, 2009 but returned online later that day with the following statement:
Nova M ceased operations a few days later.
affiliate network. Premiere announced that Rhodes would be joining the network beginning May 11, 2009, and would air daily in the 3-6 PM Eastern time slot. The show is based out of Washington, D.C. and can be heard on XM Satellite Radio's 'Talk Radio' channel 165.
Randi Rhodes
Randi Rhodes is an American progressive talk radio personality, formerly featured on Air America Radio and Nova M Radio and now on Premiere Radio Networks. Her eponymous program, The Randi Rhodes Show, airs live Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm Eastern Time.-Early life:Rhodes was born in...
combining live interview, call-in and commentary with a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
bent. The show is currently syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
. The show had previously aired over the now-defunct Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
and Nova M Radio
Nova M Radio
Nova M Radio, later known as On Second Thought, was a radio syndication service providing progressive talk programming. Founded as Nova M Radio by Sheldon and Anita Drobny in 2006, its stated purpose was to purchase, own, and operate underperforming radio stations in small and medium sized markets...
networks. The song "Bounce Your Boobies
Bounce Your Boobies
"Bounce Your Boobies" is a song written and performed by comedian Rusty Warren. A significant song in the feminist era of the 1960s, it has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, played every Friday on The Randi Rhodes Show at the beginning of the program...
" is known for being played at the beginning of the show on Fridays. According to Talkers Magazine
Talkers magazine
Talkers Magazine is a trade industry publication related to talk radio in the United States. Its slogan is "The Bible of Talk Radio and the New Talk Media"...
at the start of 2008, Randi Rhodes is the 40th most important talk show host in the United States in their "Heavy Hundred" 2007 list.
History
The Randi Rhodes Show was a local program on WJNO in West Palm Beach, FloridaWest Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
for many years before moving to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for the launch of Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
on March 31, 2004. The show ran for four hours until September 2006, when it was reduced to three hours.
Suspension
Despite what Air America stated, Randi Rhodes contended that she was not suspended for comments made about Hillary Clinton.In an appearance on Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
following her departure from Air America, Rhodes explained that the reason for her suspension was not really about the stand-up performance, but rather a ploy to force Rhodes to renegotiate her contract. Rhodes alleged that unless she renegotiated her contract to remove a right in her contract that did not allow Air America to fire her, she would never be permitted to return to the air. Air America suspended her until a settlement could be reached concerning the contract which was still in place and had an additional year to run. In the interim, Air America management decided to conduct market research to assess her value to the company. According to Rhodes, it was Air America who issued the press release that called attention to the video of her performance in San Francisco simply as a way to gauge her audience loyalty and her value to the network. According to Rhodes, Air America soon asked her to return to the air, with an offer of more money but still holding to the condition that she had to amend her contract. Rhodes refused and left Air America because of the stalemate over the new contract.
On April 9, 2008, Air America Radio CEO Charlie Kireker issued a press release stating that Rhodes was leaving the network, in the aftermath of a brief suspension following a controversial live appearance in San Francisco. One of her affiliates, KKGN in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, immediately announced that they would continue airing her show.
Nova M Radio
On April 10, 2008, Nova M RadioNova M Radio
Nova M Radio, later known as On Second Thought, was a radio syndication service providing progressive talk programming. Founded as Nova M Radio by Sheldon and Anita Drobny in 2006, its stated purpose was to purchase, own, and operate underperforming radio stations in small and medium sized markets...
announced that The Randi Rhodes Show would join its radio network, which also syndicated The Mike Malloy Show. During the first broadcast on April 14, 2008, Rhodes went into detail concerning the events surrounding her suspension. She described what happened as "a great radio story and I've heard some great radio stories in my day." The Randi Rhodes show returned to the airwaves on April 21, 2008 on 23 affiliate stations, compared to Air America's 60 affiliates. As of May 5, 2008, the show was heard on 28 stations, including XM 167, the Air America channel on XM Radio.
She also reiterated in this same episode that the issue with Air America was primarily about Air America's new owners demanding her contract be amended to remove her walk-away clause, and that another issue was her high salary.
However, Rhodes stopped broadcasting on Nova M on February 3, 2009, with shows hosted by Nancy Skinner until the closing of the network. A statement from one of the Nova M network owners appeared on their official website, but offered no explanation, claiming terms of Rhodes' contract. The Randi Rhodes Show Web site was temporarily inaccessible on February 16, 2009 but returned online later that day with the following statement:
Nova M ceased operations a few days later.
Premiere Radio Networks
On April 23, 2009, The Randi Rhodes Show became part of the Premiere Radio NetworksPremiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
affiliate network. Premiere announced that Rhodes would be joining the network beginning May 11, 2009, and would air daily in the 3-6 PM Eastern time slot. The show is based out of Washington, D.C. and can be heard on XM Satellite Radio's 'Talk Radio' channel 165.
Music
- Main theme: Compilation of audio soundbites from various figures
- Friday Theme: "Bounce Your BoobiesBounce Your Boobies"Bounce Your Boobies" is a song written and performed by comedian Rusty Warren. A significant song in the feminist era of the 1960s, it has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, played every Friday on The Randi Rhodes Show at the beginning of the program...
" by Rusty WarrenRusty Warren-Early life:Warren was born Ilene Goldman in New York City and adopted six months later by a couple from Milton, Massachusetts. She studied piano at the New England Conservatory of Music and then taught there briefly after obtaining her degree...
- at the top of the show, after main theme - Into Break Bumper: "El Phantasmo and the Chicken-Run Blast-O-Rama" by White Zombie
- Out-Of-Commercial Bumpers: Varies
- Occasional RushRush (band)Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
External links
- Official show site
- "Randi Rhodes, liberal talk show host", Buzzflash.com, January 3, 2003
- Washington Post Magazine article on Randi Rhodes: Radio Waves
- Washington Post follow up article: The Liberal Rush Limbaugh?
- Randi Rhodes Suspended by Air America Radio for "Ad Hominem" Comments Made Regarding Hillary Clinton, Air America RadioAir America RadioAir America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
, April 3, 2008 - Air America Host Randi Rhodes Suspended For Calling Hillary A "Big F*****g Whore" (with video), Huffington Post, April 3, 2008