Imus in the Morning debuts on Fox Business Network in a confusing jumble

He may have spent a week in his new studio beforehand getting used to everything. But Don Imus' debut on the Fox Business Network this morning was still jittery enough to feel like a first-time affair, complete with a first guest on a temperamental cell phone and production assistants occasionally walking into camera shots.

Not that Imus hasn't made the most of his new home. Plopped into a a high-tech forest of glass, steel and projection screens, Imus' crew looked grizzled and a bit old school next to their sleek, striking surroundings.

A busy backdrop flashed animated versions of the show's logo behind the radio jock's cowboy hat head, while the multilevel set offered a wide expanse perfect for sweeping camera shots and varied looks. Imus has already talked about the transition to some, but today offer fans the first, full look at his new TV home.

The first hour of Imus' show felt a little off-balance, packed with so many business updates and news headlines that the star couldn't get many words in edgewise. The show's first words on air weren't even spoken by Imus but by Jenna Lee, a young newsreader perched on a lectern high above the madness.

The first guest was author Debra Dickerson -- an African-American writer mostly known for penning a controversial essay saying that then-presidential candidate Barack Obama wasn't really black. Her spot, marred by an intermittent cell phone connection, started off with lame joke about her cat, moved on to an uncomfortable talk about an academic who wrote a book apparently defending the joke that got Imus canned from MSNBC and CBS Radio, culminating with the I-man's question about why Obama's election didn't produce racial harmony.

It was an odd moment; Imus asking why people are so upset about Obama's election while appearing on Fox Business Network, a cable sister of Fox News Channel, the news outlet that may have done more to whip up anti-Obama sentiment than any other.

Of course, no one in Imus' crew -- Dickerson included -- dwelled on that; indeed, the rest of Imus' gang was noticeably silent during most of the author's segment, aside from laughing loudly at anything resembling a joke.

Those expecting Imus to drink the Fox News Kool-Aid completely on his first day out were likely disappointed. Imus' politics have always been something of a mish-mash, with equal scorn reserved for conservatives and liberals he regards as knuckleheads. But now that he's been given a chance for a wider audience -- after seeing the TV portion of his post-scandal broadcasts relegated to the wilds of the RFD channel for nearly two years -- will Imus soften his typically crusty liberal stances?

Despite Imus' much-ballyhooed addition of two black performers to his crew in December 2007, the all-male team on the air this morning was middle-aged and white, exemplified when an occasional camera shot would highlight all the guys at once. The rest of Imus' guest lineup for his first day was impressively varied -- from Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi to Sen. John McCain and Fox News star Glenn Beck.

But the first hour highlighted all the stuff critics have dinged Imus for over many years, from a lack of diversity among the on air crew, to an unfortunate lack of comedy.

It's hard to know whether Imus will pull together a show entertaining enough to rebuild his empire. But there's little doubt he's found a glitzy home from which to try.

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Comments

[darkdayahead]

Feel the Power!!!

[Betts Roberts]

Please invite Lee Iacocca to your program to speak about
his latest book: "Where Have All The Leaders Gone?"

[bvb720]

I believe if you are so against anything Fox or anything Imus just change the channel. It isn't really hard at all.

[Kennedy]

Imus is a complete non-story. He has not had ratings in NY for years and is beyond irrelevant. HSN and Chef Tony infomercials garner better TV ratings than this cowboy hat wearing turkey-neck.

[Tom]

Faux News - The Jack-Booted Thug Network

[mac]

Whipping up anti-obama sentiment?? It's called reporting the news, Eric. The SPT should try it sometime.

[DoctorDoom]

On a related note:

"For the third quarter of this year, Fox News was the only cable news network to post audience gains across the board when compared with the third quarter of last year, according to data from Nielsen Media Research.

Meanwhile, CNN and MSNBC were down from the previous time last year.

FNC is averaging 583,000 viewers in the key 25-54 age demographic in prime time, up 5 percent, and averaging 329,000 in the demographic in total day which is a 12 percent increase.

In the key 25-54 demographic, CNN dropped 39 percent in prime time, averaging 287,000 viewers, and MSNBC was down by 21 percent with 271,000 viewers."

[Oscar]

Eric, normanlly I would agree with you but I must say; Imus definatly NOT middle aged.

[bulletinizer]

The I-Man's FOX debut has prompted NYC based Media Bistro/TV Newser.com to quote Eric Deggans Times column. I hope they send him a small token of appreciation to make up for the wage losses here at home.

[shelly]

Imus remains "the man." Give him time. He was hounded off the air by the likes of Sharpton and Roker, who have lots to be ashamed about but just keep going. The "I" man speaks his mind and will be great. Welcome back.

[Donna Robinson]

Imus Imus Imus is Back Back Back

[OneNewspaperTown]

Is is true Imus died five years ago but no one remembered to tell him?

[Bob]

Eric angry?

DoctorDoom say it ain't so!!

[Nancy]

The "academic who wrote a book apparently defending the joke that got Imus canned from MSNBC and CBS Radio" was Professor Michael Awkward and the book is Burying Don Imus. As Debra Dickerson said, it's a good read.

[Ricky]

"middle-aged and white"

OMG, say it's not so ... what could be worse?

horrors!

[Rob]

I might give him a chance, but I lost respect for the man for bending over for that evil race bater Al Sharpton.

[DoctorDoom]

Wow, Eric what a glorious day -

The I-man and Fox together. Now you can direct your anger to one place. Works out good for you.