O'Franken co-host sure is annoying

[InhaleToTheChief]

So, I don't know anything about Katherine Lanpher, the co-host on O'Franken Factor, but she is portrayed as the "pro" to help Al run a radio show. I find her extremely annoying and detracting from the show. I would much rather Al had a dynamic co-host or took it solo.

My biggest complaints are that she lets a caller talk for about 10 seconds before busting out this line: "Caller, I need you to scoot along", meaning get to the point. She even does this with eloquent callers who are in the middle of a good point. It gives the whole thing a rushed feel, like if Al stops talking for 10 seconds or more, she gets all antsy. They have three hours! Let callers make points or don't take callers. She doesn't seem like she has the right instincts with callers at all the way Thom Hartman, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Peter B Collins, etc have, so I wonder, has she done this before?

Also, she seems to be frighteningly "middle of the road" in her political leanings. Anyone who says something somewhat "radical" or left-leaning seems to make her nervous and she tries to water it down. She seems to be reeling Al back all the time. The last thing we need the O'Franken factor to be is another watered-down, centrist media outlet. They really should have gotten a hard-core lefty for Al to play off of, not someone who sounds like his mother saying "Oh, Al, you crazy liberal". And she's always bringing up the neocon point of view in some misguided sense of "fairness" it would seem. I would say to her, the neocons have enough outlets.

So, where did they find this lady? I personally know of so many radio personalities that would be more appropriate. Just my opinion. Other than her, I like the show. Until they get her out of the way of callers, though, Randi Rhodes is going to be much more interesting in terms of callers.

[codegreen]

1. Agreed

[RoundRockD]

7. I also agree.

She is very annoying when she tells callers to hurry and get to their question. I also agree that they don't need a voice who takes the other side's opinion. I hope they realize this.

[HootieMcBoob]

2. I don't like the "scoot along" thing either

both times I heard her say that the person seemed to be making a really good and interesting point. It seems to make the caller nervous and rush too much. I can see it if the person is rambling and not getting to the point but that wasn't what was happening when I heard it. She could stand to chill out a little.

[soleft]

3. Yes! They better do something cause it's really a turn off

[Emboldened Chimp]

4. I just heard her do it...

It was annoying...she cut right into someone's point, and her tone was a bit condescending.

[Chicago Democrat]

5. She laughs too loud, she ruins jokes... her timing is bad

She did a couple of correct things, and as many mistakes, esp yesterday. Was that her doing Ann Coulter? That was good, could have been alot better. Should have had her on in a fake interview. I hate the way her voice rises in intonation which is annoying and makes her seem stupid.

Mostly she's talking all over Al, and laughing when she shouldn't and not laughing when she should.

All that said, we should give her more time to loosen up.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

9. Bebe Something- Lilith from 'Cheers'

[tandot]

6. I was annoyed by the "I have to scoot you along" too

just take fewer callers and give all of them the chance to make their points.

[fob]

8. Bingo! Either take callers or don't, but don't take callers between

guests and then "scoot" them along. WTF! If you don't have time to let a caller ask their question, don't take the call.

There are callers that are complete idiots and NEVER get to the point, but they haven't had a caller like that yet.

[InhaleToTheChief]

10. It was not her doing Coulter

Al said a little bit ago who it was, but I forgot her name. Whoever was doing Coulter was fantastic. It was hilarious.

Since my original post, she cut off the only other caller they had with a "And your question is?..." about 10 seconds into the call by my count. I know she has had radio gigs before, but she is just way too bland for this forum. Who would have thought you could water down Al, but she does. It has this corporate feel, and she seems to have no sense of humor.

Anyone ever hear any of her former shows? Any good?

[louis-t]

11. Larry King used to do this..

on his old radio show. It was annoying. Maybe she's a 'plant' from Clear Channel. Heh-heh. Hopefully they'll work the bugs out soon or get someone else.

[Supormom]

14. She hosted a very successful show on

Minnesota Public Radio- not a Clear Channel plant.

[truthspeaker]

16. and she was annoying there too

I started out liking her but found her nasal voice and perky demeanor difficult to listen to.

I'd like to thank Al Franken for getting her the hell off of MPR, although I haven't heard her replacement yet.

[InhaleToTheChief]

12. LOL - she just got on Hillary's case

She asked her to give Theresa Heinz-Kerry advice, and Hillary praised her, and then ole' Katherine cuts her off to point out "You haven't given her advice."

Hillary replied "She doesn't need any, she's great"(paraphrase) and Al agreed. Hint Katherine: When you are on the radio with Al Franken and Hillary Clinton and neither agrees with you, remember you are the very smallest fish in the pond.

Does anyone have an email address to give them feedback? Because I know I won't be allowed to give my opinion on air before I get "scooted along".

[madaboutharry]

13. I agree, why does she

want people to "scoot it along?" I don't get it either. Let people talk and have a conversation. She is very annoying.

[zulchzulu]

15. I understand her "scoot along" comments

I found the callers getting mealy-mouthed and long-winded with no apparent question to ask. Not good radio...

I'm glad she's there to remind Al to keep the show poking along. Also, if you've ever done radio production, you have specific time spots and segments that need to be filled. You go too long in sections and then you'd have to do a bunch of ads to make up for it.

And yes, Al does have to read those ads as part of his contract. Maybe tweak the copy more to his taste...

Face it. Al is damn funny. He just needs someone to kick him along every now and then. As for her whining whenever he mentions his book, she should chill on that. Let Al sell his books...

Let's see how Day Three goes. :freak:

[Emboldened Chimp]

17. I have to disagree

The times I've heard her cut people off, they were being neither mealy-mouthed nor long-winded. In fact, they were just getting started with their comments and next thing you know, what's-her-face fires off a 'scoot along'. She's quick on the trigger, and it's not just callers--she does it with Al and his guests. IMO, she's rude, annoying and unfunny--a major crutch on a show that will improve tenfold with her firing alone.