HBO MOVIE SHOWS RADIO 'AIR AMERICA' CHAOS

[BENDIS!]

HBO MOVIE SHOWS RADIO 'AIR AMERICA' CHAOS

**Exclusive**

HBO is set to air a behind the scenes look at the launching of liberal radio network AIR AMERICA.

The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained a director's cut of LEFT OF THE DIAL, a grossly entertaining docu-drama of life on the other side of the AIR AMERICA microphone.

The doubts. The lies. The bounced checks. The heartbreak.

The viewer is taken upclose to witness the ugly business of media ambition.

The main character, Evan Cohen, founding chairman and main investor, is depicted as a complete fraud.

The documentary shows Cohen arriving in the middle of night at AIR AMERICA offices to sign over the company and disappear again, but not before lying about how many ads have been sold and how much money is the bank [zero].

Dead Air.

It shows how AIR AMERICA executives lied and lied again about not bouncing checks to their Chicago and Los Angeles affiliate owners. [The network was quickly thrown off the stations.]

The film captures AIR AMERICA staff first learning about the Chicago and LA nightmare by reading a DRUDGE REPORT exclusive on their computers.

It shows midday host Al Franken at a staff meeting being told there is no money left, hilariously, just moments after ranting about George Bush's ethics.

The HBO crew is told to shut down their cameras -- but they don't -- and the 'We're Broke!' meeting is filmed raw.

LEFT OF THE DIAL shows an angry meeting of the writing staff being told how money was deducted from their checks to pay for health care -- but the money was never paid to the HMO and they were never covered!

Host Janeane Garofalo looks suicidal in nearly ever scene which she appears.

"What am I going to do, just ramble on and on," panics stand-up-comic-morning-drive-host Marc Maron, as he deals with the reality of becoming a talkshow host.

But every drama must have a hero: Enter Randi Rhodes.

Highlight. The camera captures pm drive Rhodes in her classic PMS mood, but this time at home, in her newly rented NYC apartment.

Wearing a leopard-spotted robe, bra-less, smoking and crying "I'm so f*ckign lost," the relocated Floridian steals the show.

Talking to herself in the bedroom mirror, Rhodes whispers "You can do this."

She bemoans throughout how she is not being featured in any AIR AMERICA press. "No CNN. No USATODAY. No YAHOO wire story." How she is the only one hired at AIR AMERICA that's even been on radio before.

When she attempts to introduce herself to director Michael Moore [rushing out of a Franken Radio interview], Rhodes quickly realizes he does not even know who she is.

The heartbreaking scene is easily a frontrunner for this year's EMMYs.

The HBO film is set for air March 31.

[sonnylarue]

Certainly a gleeful target for conservatives to laugh aboput, but it's really a shame that the investors couldn't get their shit together.

I've heard the paltry salaries producers, and behind the scenes folk are making (when their checks didn't bounce), and it's really a cheap operation.

Radio is NOT a cheap biz, and the lack of funds shows in their on air product. It's a step above college radio (no offense intended to my younger radio brothers).

If you want to compete with the right, you'd better be what Franken promised they'd be, "smart, funny, and sharp with their POV" .

[David Aspmo]

It shows midday host Al Franken at a staff meeting being told there is no money left, hilariously, just moments after ranting about George Bush's ethics.

Not quite sure where the "hilarious" bit comes from, there.

And the production values (or lack thereof) really don't effect whether or not they are "smart, funny, and sharp with their POV" - and, with Franken's show, at least, I'd say that description applies. But, then again, it seems like the qualities that are generally considered "good radio", I just find obnoxious.

.
David Aspmo

[Jono]

It shows midday host Al Franken at a staff meeting being told there is no money left, hilariously, just moments after ranting about George Bush's ethics.

Not quite sure where the "hilarious" bit comes from, there.

And the production values (or lack thereof) really don't effect whether or not they are "smart, funny, and sharp with their POV" - and, with Franken's show, at least, I'd say that description applies. But, then again, it seems like the qualities that are generally considered "good radio", I just find obnoxious.

.
David Aspmo

The only show that appealed to me from their initial line-up was Franken's, and once I realized that his voice and delivery were not designed for radio, I bailed. He's an insanely funny and smart guy, but he was not put on this earth to do radio.

[David Aspmo]

The only show that appealed to me from their initial line-up was Franken's, and once I realized that his voice and delivery were not designed for radio, I bailed. He's an insanely funny and smart guy, but he was not put on this earth to do radio.

See, I guess I just want the content, not so much the style - so whatever problems there might be with his voice, I just don't notice. The only problem I have with his delivery is that often it requires a number of beats, and there's only so much time in each segment - he's getting better with that, though.

.
David Aspmo

[Thomas Mauer]

Wasn't Air America a CIA front company smuggling all kinds of stuff in Indochina during the 60s?

<scratches head>

[DaveCummings]

Even though I tend to lean more to the right politically wise, I though that Air America was a great idea. It gave people an alternative to what seems like a conservative stranglehold in the talk radio arena.

I've listened to it quite a bit. I am the type of person, I try to listen and watch things from all the sides. I'll listen to Air America, just as sometimes I'll listen to Glenn Beck or Neal Boortz or other. Just as when it comes to news I'll watch MSNBC, CNN, and Fox.

It sounds odd, yeah, but trying to listen to things through a different viewpoint I think helps me avoid being misinformed by listening to one viewpoint trying to get through thier talking points.....if that makes any sense at all.

~Dave

[Andrew j]

I tried listening to Air America but their nastiness was a complete turnoff. I kind of want to see this docudrama just to see if the behind the scenes had anything to do with how shitty they were on air

[artimoff]

We actually have one of the few actual radio stations that caries Air America Radio on the air. ( In the very liberal Portland, Maine) I listen ti it sometimes and it's funny stuff. Mike O'malley rocks (truthseekers).

[davisturn]

Might watch it. I'm in radio (barely) and the chaos aspect appeals to me, especially given career upheaval I've seen with others I know.