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[Ripclawe]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1101041213-880301,00.html

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE NPR?

We had agreed on the destination we were to arrive at, but somewhere along the line NPR wavered in the journey. Our show is the most multiracial in NPR's entire history, it has the youngest demographic of any show in NPR's history, so progress was being made. My concern was the pace the network was moving at-- it wasn't fast enough.

ARE YOU PLANNING A JUMP TO SATELLITE RADIO SO YOU CAN MAKE HOWARD STERN — TYPE MONEY?

My decision was based on my convictions. I have no deals signed, no deals on the table. I wanted to return to NPR. I love NPR. But I had to ask myself: Are we doing all we can to bring new audiences to public radio? And I don't think that we are.

IS IT TRUE YOU GOT ANGRY LETTERS FROM LISTENERS WHEN YOU STARTED AT NPR?

I can't begin to tell you the hate mail that I received when I started three years ago. I remember one listener emailing me to complain that my laughter was too boisterous. They didn't like the way I talked, the way I sounded. Because my whole style was so antithetical to what the traditional NPR listener had been accustomed to. And they really didn't like the substance of what I was talking about, initially. But they came to appreciate it.

WHAT'S MORE DIVERSE THESE DAYS — NPR OR PRESIDENT BUSH'S CABINET?

Bush's Cabinet. It is ironic that a Republican President has an Administration that is more inclusive and more diverse than a so-called liberal-media-elite network.

BUT DO BUSH'S MINORITY SELECTIONS REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITIES FROM WHICH THEY COME?

There is a distinction between symbolism and substance — Zora Neale Hurston once said, "All my skinfolk ain't my kinfolk." But whether one likes or loathes the people Bush has chosen to be part of his Administration, he is reaching out.

What an ego..sheesh
I'm beginning to think that Tavis got fired from BET because of it.

 

[Doth Togo]

Him and Omarosa need to get together.

 

[Willco]

Him and Omarosa need to get together.

She has a face that belongs on radio.

 

[dskillzhtown]

I remember when Russell Simmons called Tavis a "House Nigger", and walked off the show on BET. That was one of those surreal moments.

 

[theo]

her face belongs in a landfill

 

[Willco]

her face belongs in a landfill

:lol

 

[RobotChant]

I'm not going to comment on what he said, but he got a ton of airtime this past election. With all that exposure, I'm sure he's now a highly sought after personality. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a whiff of the possibilities outside of NPR.

 

[border]

Geez, I didn't think he was really that well known. Does everybody here listen to NPR or did he used to do something else (BET)??

I usually ended up listening to his show since it came on around 8 PM....and I generally liked it pretty well. It got on my nerves when they did "Brown vs Board" specials for like the ENTIRE MONTH of the 50th anniversary of BrownVBoard.

I don't entirely get why he's quitting his show or whatever. Does this mean that the PBS show will be getting axed as well?

And why was Russell Simmons pissed at him?

 

[sc0la]

I only started listening to him when the local NPR station picked up the show.

I listen to it, but I don't like it nearly as much as shows like talk of the nation etc.

Thanks to Tavis I know notice everytime a black person says "folks" instead of "people" :lol


I am with boarder, I don't get why he is leaving.

EDIT: hehe I am streaming his show now because of this topic.

 

[theo]

And why was Russell Simmons pissed at him?

"Tavis continued to refute every compliment that Mr. Simmons mentioned about Tupac bringing up all the negative aspects of his life and music. Eventually Mr. Simmons got fed up and with one last comment he blasted Tavis for his berating of Tupac and hung up the phone in the middle of the show saying that he would not continue to be apart of a show that showed such disrespect and called Tavis "America's Favorite House Nigger."

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/outlawz/5rival.html

 

[Dilbert]

I've only heard his show on NPR in other markets -- I don't think it's on the Los Angeles NPR station (KCRW).

Honestly, the few times I've heard it, I didn't care for his personality at ALL. There are very few programs on NPR that I would make a point of avoiding...but his would be on the list.

 

[Soybean]

I like his show. I listen to it on my way home from school twice a week. Now who the hell will I listen to?

 

[border]

What didn't you like about his personality?

And yeah, he sure does use the word "folks" a lot. The professor here that is our African American Lit specialist does the same thing (and he's a white guy), so Tavis always kind of reminds me of him.

 

[MASB]

I usually ended up listening to his show since it came on around 8 PM....and I generally liked it pretty well. It got on my nerves when they did "Brown vs Board" specials for like the ENTIRE MONTH of the 50th anniversary of BrownVBoard.

lol, I know. I was like, okay Tavis, we know that Brown vs. Board not only stopped segregation, it freed the slaves, gave all minorities a two bedroom house and microwaves their meals. It's the perfect court ruling! Now aren't there other things you can talk about?

I didn't really start listening to his radio show until his TV show came on. He can do some good interviews, but he sometimes had some Ratherisms. Rather had "Courage!", Tavis had "Keep the faith!"

As for his complaints, I'm not sure what his problem is. NPR/PBS seemed like they promoted the heck out of him.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Only get to hear him randomly, but I like his show. Seems he might have a legit beef if he had some lofty goals for the show, but I don't know what he expects with PBS money. PEACE.

 

[border]

Haha. I remember when the actual day of the Brown v. Board anniversary came, I was so happy because I thought -- "Awesome! No more talking about Brown v. Board every single night!" Then the next day they were back on it again :lol Every episode they interviewed high school kids who essentially said "I think integration is good....but I don't talk or hang out with anyone of a different race." The repeated idea that kids will segregate themselves by choice if not by law kind of undercut things.

he might have a legit beef if he had some lofty goals for the show

Well, there is a thin line between "You're not reaching out to blacks enough" and "You're not promoting me enough." Behind the scenes it could all just be a bunch of stupid egotism. Smiley is very tactful about the way he phrases things (just look at the answer he gave to the quesiton about minorities in the Bush administration).

I don't really see the reason for quitting. Sad to say, but where is he really going to get this kind of audience elsewhere? Say hello to The Black Forum, airing every Sunday night at 3 AM on NBC. He might have had a chance before the liberal news networks started taking an ass-pounding from Fox News. I doubt that they are looking to start producing new talk shows with a niche audience.

 

[Phoenix]

My wife really likes listening to Tavis, but I personally find him to be mostly self-serving. He reminds me of Marla from Boston Public - he wants to make everything under the sun the biggest issue possible so he can have the attention. While I have no ill-feelings towards Tavis, I think that many times he just doesn't even 'get' what he's talking about.

 

[Ripclawe]

My wife really likes listening to Tavis, but I personally find him to be mostly self-serving. He reminds me of Marla from Boston Public - he wants to make everything under the sun the biggest issue possible so he can have the attention. While I have no ill-feelings towards Tavis, I think that many times he just doesn't even 'get' what he's talking about.

Tavis defending Jean Aristide pretty much proves that point.