1160/WCFO-AM adds Randi Rhodes to lineup Feb. 14
CREDIT: Courtesy of Randi Rhodes
Atlanta fans of quick-witted Randi Rhodes should be thrilled to know she’s returning to the AM dial on Monday on NewsTalk 1160/WCFO-AM.
She had been on AM 1690 in Atlanta from 2004 to 2006 when Air America attempted to create a liberal counterpoint to the heavily conservative world of talk radio.
Jeff Davis, vice president and general manager of WCFO, runs mostly conservative talk show hosts but after fiery Dr. Laura Schlessinger left in December for Sirius/XM, he decided to try something different.
“From the frying pan,” Davis said, “into the fire. We want someone to stir the pot and bring some balance in a radio market that is woefully lacking in balance. She had a lot of fans when Air America was here.”
She will air from 3 to 5 p.m. between Dennis Miller and Mancow.
Rhodes, a progressive talk show host on 40 stations nationwide, mostly does well in liberal alcoves such as Seattle, Denver, Portland, New York and Los Angeles. WCFO’s signal is strongest inside the perimeter, where Rhodes’ potential listeners are likely to be.
After Air America collapsed and died, Rhodes worked briefly with a small syndicator Nova M but in 2009, big-time syndicator Premiere Radio Networks picked her up.
Premiere, owned by Clear Channel, distributes Glenn Beck, Ryan Seacrest and Rush Limbaugh, among others.
“It was a dream come true,” Rhodes said. She worked with Clear Channel for years in West Palm Beach before Air America and had a side deal with them while she was with Air America. “They said they’d be my safety net in case things blew up,” she said.
Her theory on why Air America failed: it hired people based on ideology, not skill set. And the on-air staff featured people such as Chuck D, Janeane Garofalo, and Al Franken who were not true radio professionals but celebrities. Even rising star Rachel Maddow had her eyes on TV and ended up on MSNBC. Rhodes was one of the few that grew up in radio and truly loves it.
Rhodes is thrilled to be on WCFO because she likes stations that are willing to air on-air personalities with different ideologies. In her mind, the reason why talk radio ratings have slipped off the past year or two is because “it’s become group therapy for the like minded. It’s not supposed to be a love fest. It’s supposed to be fun!”
She wants people who disagree with her to listen. She enjoys callers who listen on XM who battle her because she’s on the same station as Beck. “It makes the show better. It makes me better.”
“All this format purity is doctrinaire,” she added. “You hear the same stuff on a thousand radio stations. What’s the fun of that? Wouldn’t you rather play with the box the toy came in? I’m that box!”
Jon Sinton, an Atlanta-based co-founder of Air America (who she did not blame for Air America’s woes), hired Rhodes in 2004. He said 1160 does not have a grandiose marketing budget so she’ll have to build her audience via word of mouth. “She’s a compulsive truth teller,” he said. “She can’t help herself. Therefore, she’s a thorn in the side of authority,” he said.
He also considers her “preternaturally smart without a lot of academic baggage. And she is passionate but has informed passion.”
On other topics:
Rush Limbaugh: Although she lived in the same town as Limbaugh, she never met him. “He never once came to the station [in West Palm Beach.] He’s different. I have no idea what he’s like. I don’t know him. He at least strikes me as a smart guy as opposed to other guys who don’t even know they’re lying!”
Her current bosses: “I love them! It’s run by women. They’re amazing.”
Egypt: “This uprising came from a bunch of 30 year olds. The right wing is scaring the bejesus out of everyone over the Muslim Brotherhood. They’re just a bunch of old men. [Hosni] Mubarak is an old man. Their day is done. The idea of democracy is bubbling up all over Africa and parts of the Middle East.”
Ronald Reagan: “You look at Reagan as a legislator and he’s not the idol the right has built him into. As a governor, he liberalized abortion. As president, he raised taxes almost every year. Conservatives felt he cut and run after we were attacked in Beirut. I was in the military at the time. I didn’t want to go to Beirut. Reagan couldn’t be a conservative today.”
Health care: “The truth is the individual mandate is a Republican proposal. It always was. It was a compromise so insurance companies could get 32 million new customers. But they now hate it because Obama did it. That’s how polarized we are. If you get sick and have no health insurance, you go to an emergency room. I pay for it through my health insurance premiums. That’s socialized medicine. I want to make sure it’s not socialized. Everyone uses their individual responsibility and insure themselves. That’s a conservaitve idea!”
On a lighter note: Rhodes, whose radio name is in honor of rock star Randy Rhodes, likes Steven Tyler as a judge on “American Idol.”" “I think he’s funny. He’s much more accessible than I thought he’d be. He’s adorable. He has a great sense of humor. He has an issue with cute 15 year olds. That’s a little borderline creepy.”
The new lineup starting Monday:
Don Imus: 6 to 10 a.m.
Laura Ingraham: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (previously, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Dennis Miller : 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (previously, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
Randi Rhodes: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (new)
Mancow: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (previously, 4 to 7 p.m.)
Lou Dobbs: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (previously 2 to 4 p.m.)
Jerry Doyle : 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. (same)
Phil Hendrie: 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. (same)
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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50 comments Add your comment
radiowxman
February 8th, 2011
5:17 pm
So I assume 1310 AM “The King” was a very short-lived venture?
Evander "Ho Chasin" Holyfield
February 8th, 2011
5:30 pm
hmmm didn’t this chick drink a large amount of vodka, come stumbling out of a bar and fell on the ground smashing her face…then blaming an attempted mugging for the bruising? RR is a controlled opposition tool. She won’t allow anyone discuss controversial topics such as 9/11.
I hope she falls flat on her big a$$ in Atlanta.
Ho Out
Jim R.
February 8th, 2011
5:33 pm
Good move for WCFO. I listened to her occasionally back in 2006 when she was on 1690, and though I disagreed with most of her views, she at least brings a passion and enjoyment to the talk profession.
Tweets that mention 1160/WCFO-AM adds Randi Rhodes to lineup Feb. 14 | Radio & TV Talk -- Topsy.com
February 8th, 2011
5:51 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Atlanta Rio , Rodney Ho. Rodney Ho said: 1160/WCFO-AM adds Randi Rhodes to lineup Feb. 14 http://bit.ly/i16qL0 [...]
Jason T
February 8th, 2011
8:23 pm
…”if a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there, does it make a sound?”
Tim
February 8th, 2011
9:07 pm
This is great news.
I listened to her when she was on 1690 AM when it was Air America. She does her homework, and is a good counter to all the Beck-style propaganda.
But Rodney, what happened to 1310 AM? Back in August, you reported they would be bringing a progressive radio line-up to Atlanta. I programmed it on my AM dial, and it’s still nothing but static.
Rodney Ho
February 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
Tim–I know. They had a website but I could never get a hold of a human being to talk about it. And yes, all I get is static, too.
TVboy
February 8th, 2011
9:20 pm
i’m a conservative radio listener, but i would give her a listen. she is good at what she does. so is stephanie miller. her show is good
Tim
February 8th, 2011
9:38 pm
@Rodney
Oh, okay.
I guess I’ll still check the station every now and then…..
Freakshow Blue
February 8th, 2011
10:31 pm
Ha, Ha, ha, ha,….mm,m….ha guffaw….”quick-witted Randi Rhodes”….man that is hilarious Rodney, have you ever tired stand up? oh my Gawd, you are a Comedy Genius
Phil Hendrie Fan
February 8th, 2011
11:22 pm
We need THE KIMMER back on the air it Atlanta, not this blonde, clueless, walking tampon holder.
Phil Hendrie Fan
February 8th, 2011
11:24 pm
We need THE KIMMER back on the air in Atlanta, not this blonde, clueless, walking tampon holder Randi Rhodes.
She looks like a washed-up porn star, and is named accordingly.
Also, we need Phil Hendrie’s program to air locally when some of us are actually AWAKE.
martyqick
February 9th, 2011
12:00 am
The first new rule says you HAVE to have insurance. Both my husband and I have pre-existing conditions, and although the new bill says we can’t be denied coverage because of it. So far, the cheapest health insurance we’ve been able to find is called “Wise Health Insurance” search for it online if you are pre-existing conditions.
DebDoes
February 9th, 2011
4:26 am
I like her already and I don’t know her. As for you guys out there with your snarky remarks, you can crawl back into your caves with your guns and camo outfits. Once again, if you don’t like her, don’t listen. If you don’t like the article, change the page. Your comments aren’t welcome anymore. And you may want to increase your meds….I’m just saying.
Overweight Dawg
February 9th, 2011
4:44 am
I think she’s a little more than a “progressive talk show host.” More like an overbearing socialist. If you want to be honest, call her show what it his…Hate Radio. I listened to her on Air America and it was much more vile than Limbaugh or Scammity.
Regarding DebDoes, I take it you’re a left wing lover of all things government and blame George W. Bush for the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
You certainly toe the line, don’t you? Comments that disparage Randi Rhodes “aren’t welcome anymore” as you say? That’s pretty typical of hard leftists and dictatorships…I’m just saying.
rod
February 9th, 2011
6:36 am
not only a socialist but a screaming one that has failed in almost every market but gets a chance again.
Larry
February 9th, 2011
6:37 am
It kills me the way Liberals have usurped the term “progressive”. The only progress they seek is toward the destruction of any individual liberties left to us. Fortunately, she is, like them all, wholly ineffective and utterly specious in her “arguments” which consist almost exclusively ad hominem attacks on anyone who doesn’t have her divine (but secular!) vision.
Kyle
February 9th, 2011
6:57 am
Typical Liberal female…..looks like a dumpster fire. Look at those teeth. If Reverend Gig LeCarp from Reno 911 had a twin sister she would be it. I’m sure like any other Democrat she talks nothing but hate against America and yet you couldn’t get them to go live in their beloved North Korea or Iran at gunpoint. Democrats will be able to listen to her because they have their dream job of collecting unemployment but at least I work and won’t go by 1160 by accident between 3 and 5.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
February 9th, 2011
7:11 am
too bad you can’t hear 1160 after the sun goes down, or if it’s raining, or if it’s sunny, or if it’s cold, etc.
Donnie Corleone
February 9th, 2011
7:17 am
Is that the best photo you could find? Well, she certainly has a face for radio. Oh, and DebDoes, that’s just like a liberal to want to stifle other opinions with which you disagree.
2012
February 9th, 2011
7:24 am
I hope she makes fun of ignorant christian’s all day long.
Bob
February 9th, 2011
7:24 am
She, like many others are saying that repubs proposed mandatory healthcare. If they did, why don’t we have it already ? Does that mean repubs proposed it and democrats were the party of no ?
Bob
February 9th, 2011
7:26 am
Is this the same Randi Rhodes that faked a beating and tried to generate sympathy with her band of listeners ?
mike
February 9th, 2011
7:36 am
Don’t you just love the way the consevatives post all their knowledge here. All their hate, name calling and general displeasure in life is always good see. I guess it does not make a difference what an article can be about, as long it provides space for their always insightful remarks.
Jim H.
February 9th, 2011
7:41 am
I’m sure the eight liberals that listen to her will enjoy it very much.
Teacher
February 9th, 2011
7:42 am
It will be nice to hear something fair and balanced for a change.
Buzz G
February 9th, 2011
8:00 am
There is an echo coming from between her ears. She needs to find another method of employment.
Roman Runaway
February 9th, 2011
8:04 am
That’s going to get confusing for those who know Randy Rhodes on South 107 out of Rome and Ozzy’s dead guitar player.
Bob
February 9th, 2011
8:06 am
Mike, where is the hate ? Oh, thats right, since we do not agree with a lib we are haters. Randi Rhodes on the other hand has never said anything hateful, she is a lib.
DancesWithWolves
February 9th, 2011
8:12 am
Thanks for the warning. “Progressive.” Oh please. I won’t my word back! 1160 must’ve had trouble lining up someone to take Dr. Laura’s place. Isn’t Kris Kroc is syndication?
Howard
February 9th, 2011
8:56 am
Air America and its stupid folks, Randi Rose included, were a ratings disaster. Who listens to these people except committed hard-cofe leftists?? She is unattractive, shrill, mean-spirited, overbearing…too many to list here. Down here in Florida, no-one listened to her at West Palm Beach except a small group of transplanted northern liberal Democrats…no wait, I just described Palm Beach County. I think it’s hirlarious Rush Limbaugh lives among them, broadcasts among them and still attracts 20 million listeners a day. How many did idiots like Randi Rose and Air America (What a misnomer that always was!!)attract?? I have a suggestion…there once was a pro wrestler named Randy Rhodes that was a handsome guy and talked great on the mike…find him and put him on that station. Gotta be better than overblown anti-American, left-wing socialist nutcase like her. Oh, the Muslim Brotherhood is harmless, Randi says?? Let her and her liberal sisterhood go live in a country with Sharia law like the MB espouses and see how long they’d stay until they’d be back.
Iggystooge
February 9th, 2011
10:20 am
After reading the posts above, all I have to say is that metro Atlanta conservatives must be very unhappy people. You folks are just sad. And not bright either. Listen to Randy, you will learn something that is fact based for a change.
scott
February 9th, 2011
10:24 am
HA too funny, I assume the station wants folks to tune out for a couple hrs each day, nobody listens to this crap. How many have to fail until they stop pushing it???
When will liberals learn that talk radio does’t work for them b/c homeless/jobless/lame folks that vote Dem. don’t care about issues. They vote for free crap. Fire away the truth hurts.
just look at the Dem voting block, shows you the mirror of the party. Thank heavens for Nov, and the next couple cycles things will correct even more. There is a huge quiet ground swell of folks the media has no idea about, and dismisses with the polling they do. It will be huge.
Last 4 years have been worst of my 35 years on earth watching all these people suffer, geee…. I wonder when Dems took over? Oh yea, 4 yrs ago. Do the math morons!
Iggystooge
February 9th, 2011
10:31 am
Scott, unfortunately, you don’t even have any idea how stupid your post reads. Talk radio doesn’t work for liberals because we think for ourselves and don’t have to be spoonfed our ideas. All you guys do is spout the same talking points that those money grubbers Beck, Limbaugh and Hannity tell you to think. If you were an educated man, which you have shown not to be, you would understand this.
scott
February 9th, 2011
10:34 am
Regarding her Heathcare quote above….so where the heck are those 32million gonna get money to pay for the “mandated” healthcare policy. From us the tax payer…. duh??? Might as well keep going to the emergency room, just because you force them to buy doesn’t mean they all the sudden have money to do it??? What a lame statement by a true lib, figures. Liberals must be the dumbest folks on earth, I mean the dumbest folks anywhere around. Its hilarious.
scott
February 9th, 2011
10:39 am
Iggysttoge my man/woman…it now shows how uneducated you are to assume I listen to any of those folks, and I don’t. I can’t stand Hannity, and I work for a liiving while the others are on air. I run a multi miilion dollar business and think very well for myslef. I employ over 10 people and your comments show your close minded ingnorance. And i knew the truth would hurt a few of you libs, as it did you. Sometimes facts don’t line up your way, just admit it. Yhe old line for you folks, do as I say, not as I do. I even voted for Roy Barnes, so chew on that my friend. Its folks like you that have ruined the Dem party. And folks like this lady about to be aired in Atl.
Iggystooge
February 9th, 2011
11:06 am
Your “truth” doesn’t hurt me. As you know, liberals know we are intellectually superior, so we don’t care what you neanderthals think. You can employ 1000 people and still be an idiot. I like when you and your ilk talk about how you are hard working men and don’t listen to the radio. But of course you took time from your busy day to comment about a radio show. I know you say this because from your earlier post it’s obvious that you believe liberals don’t work. Or believe in business. Not sure how I have ruined the Democratic party, you must know a lot more about me than I thought. I guess it’s because I won’t roll over and give in to right wing talking points. Hey, believe it or not, I’m signing off to get some real work done, imagine that, a working liberal (who also works for himself). Enjoy the rest of your day “working” on the message board writing about radio shows that you don’t listen to.
Mark
February 9th, 2011
11:22 am
2012, you hit the nail on the head. I loved listening to her when I lived in Portland. I don’t always agree with her, but it will be nice to listen to someone with some sense. The Eddie Long/Pat Robertson bible thumpers need to have some intelligent conversation interjected into their lives. The imaginary man in the sky would probably enjoy listening to her too.
Julie in Atlanta
February 9th, 2011
11:24 am
Yay! Can’t wait to listen to Randi again.
Voice of Reason
February 9th, 2011
12:00 pm
Randi Rhodes will be great for Atlanta. This line, “She’s a compulsive truth teller” couldn’t be more accurate. I’ve listened to her before and she does her homework.
For any and everyone looking for real, honest commentary and debate on topics of consequence to us the American public, you will love this show.
For those who only like the half-truths of your own like-minded, you will hate this show.
TheLazyComic
February 9th, 2011
12:54 pm
Does WCFO stream on the net ?? I live WAY outside the perimeter, so it would be the only way I could listen. I liked Randi when she was at 1690. Didn’t always agree with her views, but she was always a pro on-air. Glad to see she’s back in the Atlantic market.
Christina cullen
February 9th, 2011
5:55 pm
TheLazyComic – you can stream her here: http://www.green960.com/main.html I’ve been doing it for awhile. I’m glad to hear she’s back on down here, at least I can have a decent show to listen to while in my car now.
R2ontheair
February 10th, 2011
9:54 am
Am 1310 ‘The King” did go on the air in September of 2010 with a Progressive Talk format. Apparently a poor business plan and lack of a sales team caused this to be a short-lived venture as they went silent near the end of January. Their website http://www.am1310theking says they are now internet only. While Progressive Talk will never be the ratings grabber that WSB is, the format can make some money with a good sales team. The listeners to progressive talk are very loyal.
snottrocket
February 10th, 2011
11:06 am
@R2ontheair: I was about to add that, but you beat me to the punch. Well done.
Randy is smart as hell and will be an interesting addition between Mancow and Miller though she’s only going to be on for 2 hours? I do wonder if it means she won’t be running on the King any more.
Sounds to me like a lot of conservatives are getting nervous. run in fear….run for the hills..
Oh Brother
February 10th, 2011
11:59 am
Yeah she is really smart alright. Goes bombastic on Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton and calls them who*es. Then while suspended she goes out and claims she was mugged, her colleagues claim it was a “right-wing conspiracy”, and then a short time later her lawyer and local police tell the truth and claim it was all a hoax and that she only fell while walking her dog (probably another drunken spill on her part).
And as far as conservatives go, no we are not nervous. She has failed at every station or gig she has ever had so why will this station who garners a miniscule audience perform any better? Plus we like having her around because her stupidity allows us to sell more t-shirts.
snottrocket
February 10th, 2011
6:57 pm
Dude, I base what I say on the general response of dumbfu**ery comments coming out of every one who is slamming on her. We get it..you love your daily Beck-Limabaugh-Hannity-Levin diet and have no problem taking weak shots at any talker who doesn’t snap to the rank-n-file conservative doctrine. I’m not exactly one to agree with what everything every talk radio person I hear says, and she’s one of them, but you people need to find something better to do than just trolling the comment sections. I’m calling it like I see it.
Consider this: right wing talk is having problem these days. Glenn Beck’s tv ratings are down by about 48%…he’s lost lots of sponsors. He and Hannity have both lost syndication in Philly and Hannity lost a station in SLC (turns out his way mo longer gelled with the ideals of the station. Even Rush’s ratings went down this year. That might mean something.
Now, maybe wing-nut talk radio is loosing steam because everyone in the middle has gotten tired of the hyper-partisan yammering. If that’s the case, then eventually we might start seeing the best of both worlds running together on the same station. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying conservative talk radio is dying…Rush’s audience is too much of a powerhouse for that to happen. But it could very start to simmer down.
Different topic: I’m of the thinking that progressive/liberal/left wing talk may do much better in some markets as an internet format than it would OTA. There are obviously cities where it does great OTA but the other cities where conservative talk is more prominent, I’m thinking that the left-talk could offer serious competition via the internet as it’s demo is more technology based.
Lew
February 11th, 2011
4:58 pm
Why is it that neo-Cons immediately go for personal attacks based on Randi’s looks? Are y’all out of logical arguments based on facts?
Very classy, guys. Very classy.
Neil God
February 11th, 2011
10:25 pm
Oy
Eliza Huntley
February 13th, 2011
2:25 pm
Glad to hear that Randi’s back. Loved her on Air America.
Kevin
February 13th, 2011
6:21 pm
Mr. Sinton “considers her preternaturally smart without a lot of academic baggage.”
What in the world does that mean?
I’ve hired someone without any academic credentials, so I’m going to label academic credentials as baggage?
I won’t listen to the old broad. And she needs to fix those God-awful bangs.