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http://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2962757/detail.html
Franken Slams O'Reilly In Liberal Radio Network Debut
Air America Debuts On 5 Stations Wednesday
UPDATED: 5:31 p.m. EST March 31, 2004
NEW YORK -- A liberal group's answer to Rush Limbaugh is officially on the air.
Progress Media's Air America network began at noon EST Wednesday with a talk show hosted by comedian and author Al Franken broadcast in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Ore., and Inland Empire, Calif.
The title of Franken's show, "The O'Franken Factor," is a take off of his
political adversary -- Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly. The television talker hosts "The O'Reilly Factor" five nights a week on the cable network.
Franken said at the opening
r
r
of
is show Wednesday that he named the show "The O'Franken Factor" for "one reason and one reason on
ly -- to annoy and bait Bill O'Reilly."
Franken said that the show will be driven by satire, because "satire is protected speech in America . . . even if the intended target doesn't get it."
The political satrist also said the show will "relentlessly" hammer on President George W. Bush, saying the Bush adminstration will "go down" in November.
Franken's three-hour show, co-hosted by former newspaper columnist Katherine Lanpher, will air middays during the week. Among Franken's first guests Wednesday were Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerry, who spoke about the Sept. 11 commission and controversial documentary filmmaker Michae
l Moore.
Listeners who called in included for Vice President Al Gore.
A former writer and performer on television's "Saturday Night Live," Franken has also written th
e b
est
-selling b
ooks "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" and "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right."
The latter prompted Fox News Channel to file a su
it against Franken, arguing that it had trademarked the phrase "fair and balanced" in 1998.
On Aug. 25, a New York judge said Fox's claims were was "wholly without merit, both factually and legally." The network dropped the suit two days later.
In addition to radio stations in the five cities, Air America will be heard on XM satellite radio. The station's Web site said a livestream of the broadcast will be available to listeners who can't get the show in their market.
On Tuesday, WMNN, a station in Franken's native Minneapolis, announced th
at it would be picking up "The O'Franken Factor," and start airing in late May or early June. It will not be airing other network programming.
Air America's l
ineup i
n its f
our cities include
s a breakfast show featuring comic Mark Maron and a midmorning program with rapper Chuck D and Lizz Winstead, the co-creator of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contribu
ted to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2962757/detail.html
Franken Slams O'Reilly In Liberal Radio Network Debut
Air America Debuts On 5 Stations Wednesday
UPDATED: 5:31 p.m. EST March 31, 2004
NEW YORK -- A liberal group's answer to Rush Limbaugh is officially on the air.
Progress Media's Air America network began at noon EST Wednesday with a talk show hosted by comedian and author Al Franken broadcast in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, Ore., and Inland Empire, Calif.
The title of Franken's show, "The O'Franken Factor," is a take off of his
political adversary -- Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly. The television talker hosts "The O'Reilly Factor" five nights a week on the cable network.
Franken said at the opening
r
r
of
is show Wednesday that he named the show "The O'Franken Factor" for "one reason and one reason on
ly -- to annoy and bait Bill O'Reilly."
Franken said that the show will be driven by satire, because "satire is protected speech in America . . . even if the intended target doesn't get it."
The political satrist also said the show will "relentlessly" hammer on President George W. Bush, saying the Bush adminstration will "go down" in November.
Franken's three-hour show, co-hosted by former newspaper columnist Katherine Lanpher, will air middays during the week. Among Franken's first guests Wednesday were Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerry, who spoke about the Sept. 11 commission and controversial documentary filmmaker Michae
l Moore.
Listeners who called in included for Vice President Al Gore.
A former writer and performer on television's "Saturday Night Live," Franken has also written th
e b
est
-selling b
ooks "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" and "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right."
The latter prompted Fox News Channel to file a su
it against Franken, arguing that it had trademarked the phrase "fair and balanced" in 1998.
On Aug. 25, a New York judge said Fox's claims were was "wholly without merit, both factually and legally." The network dropped the suit two days later.
In addition to radio stations in the five cities, Air America will be heard on XM satellite radio. The station's Web site said a livestream of the broadcast will be available to listeners who can't get the show in their market.
On Tuesday, WMNN, a station in Franken's native Minneapolis, announced th
at it would be picking up "The O'Franken Factor," and start airing in late May or early June. It will not be airing other network programming.
Air America's l
ineup i
n its f
our cities include
s a breakfast show featuring comic Mark Maron and a midmorning program with rapper Chuck D and Lizz Winstead, the co-creator of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contribu
ted to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
