BuzzFlash Reviews
Left of the Dial (DVD)
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But this gutsy, gripping, and entertaining documentary captures the sheer grit of the Air America radio personalities as they endured bounced paychecks, lost health insurance, and station closings, with both anxiety and a commitment to barrel through daunting start-up and financial problems.
You get to see present and past Air America hosts showing their vulnerabilities (Randi Rhodes stars in this area, since she is always herself -- on or off the air).
For any Air America fan, this is a captivating documentary of media survival and also an intriguing insight into the people you hear on progressive talk radio.
Air America isn't completely out of the woods, but if any alternative to the right wing echo chamber is going to make it, it's probably going to be Air America. They've got problems, as any media upstart does, but they've got the talent -- and, as Randi Rhodes would unhesitatingly say -- the balls to do it.
They also got a cash infusion to keep them going awhile -- and hopefully more is on the way.
We couldn't find "Left of the Dial" in any of three local DVD rental stores in our area, including one that specializes in documentaries. That's a shame. It should be widely available. It premiered as an hour and a half HBO documentary.
Here is some of what HBO has to say about it: "LEFT OF THE DIAL chronicles the trials and tribulations involved in starting up - and sustaining - a nationwide radio network during a highly charged election year.
Joining the Air America team in New York just 12 days prior to the launch, filmmakers Patrick Farrelly and Kate O'Callaghan follow an eclectic group of people through the launch period and beyond, as they create a slate of shows while facing mismanagement and financial chaos that bring the fledgling network to the brink of collapse.
Offering an intimate look at rehearsals with the celebrated public faces of Air America - including author-comedian Al Franken, outspoken radio veteran Randi Rhodes, and comedian-actress Janeane Garofalo - LEFT OF THE DIAL reveals the nervous expectations of investors who staked their careers on the network. Among them are Evan Cohen, Air America's chairman, and David Goodfriend, who becomes Air America's general counsel. Cautiously optimistic, Cohen observes, "If we succeed, we'll succeed fabulously, but if we fail, at least we'll fail spectacularly."
LEFT OF THE DIAL chronicles the birth of signature shows such as "The O'Franken Factor" (later renamed "The Al Franken Show"), "The Randi Rhodes Show," "The Majority Report," hosted by Garofalo and Sam Seder, and "Morning Sedition," hosted by Marc Maron. There are bumps along the way. Maron worries about having enough material to get through the week, while Garofalo and Seders jokingly ponder the best way to receive the news if they get fired.
On March 31, 2004, Air America launches at noon (ET), with Al Franken proclaiming, "Today is both an ending and a beginning: an end to the right-wing dominance of talk radio, [and] a beginning of a battle for truth, a battle for justice, a battle indeed for America itself ... not to be grandiose." Among his first-day guests is Michael Moore.
Later, on Randi Rhodes' inaugural show, she gets into an on-air shouting match with Ralph Nader, who hangs up on her. The radio veteran revels immediately in her newfound broadcast home and her caustic, funny style seem a perfect fit for America's newest radio network. Everyone agrees Day One was an unqualified success, and expectations soar.
Ironically, as the media exploits this latest fiasco, the on-air hosts find their groove. Rhodes is thrilled to get her own cover story in the Washington Post Magazine and a billboard in Times Square. Maron has worked through his anxieties, as have Garofalo and Seder. The New York ratings are unexpectedly high - Franken beats Rush Limbaugh, and Rhodes outpaces right-wing rival Sean Hannity. Encouraged, management is able to attract additional investors long enough to keep the venture afloat through November."
Of course, some "personalities" at Air America have changed -- and it is still struggling in some markets. (In Chicago, it is on a weak-signal radio station that can only broadcast until sundown, so you can't even hear Randi Rhodes in the winter!)
But as "Left of the Dial" documents, the Air America talent did something most progressives don't do: they sucked up their guts and stuck it out.
As a result, there is an alternative news network to the right wing echo chamber of lies.
We first interviewed Randi Rhodes when she was still a talk radio host in Florida, with great ratings, and no one would offer her a larger market. She has credited the BuzzFlash interview with opening a world of new opportunties to her, ultimately leading to Air America.
As you watch the documentary, remember that you are a key factor in guaranteeing the future of Air America. Listen to it, spread the word, and let their advertisers know you heard about them on an Air America station.
One thing you will learn for sure from this documentary. It's fantastic to cheer on a pro-democracy radio network, but it's still a business. It needs your support.
A highly enjoyable and well-done documentary.
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