Lionel to replace sam seder

Air America announced today that syndicated talker, Lionel will move from the WOR Radio Network to Air America Radio for 9am-noon beginning May 14.

We reported Friday that Sammy was being replaced; today comes the official pronouncement.

(In general, BlatherWatch distrusts people who go by their first name only- like Bozo, Bono, or Beyoncé. Lionel's real name is Michael William LeBron, he's 48, a former Florida prosecutor, and is known politically as a centrist- another classification of people we distrust...)

Seder, will move to Sunday afternoons (4-7p) for "Seder on Sunday," a recap and review of the Sunday morning talk shows.

(Not sure what liberal Seattle station 1090 KPTK will do. Thom Hartmann does the West Coast morning show for AAR. They run Lionel now from 10p-1a Saturday nights).

The 18-year talker has been syndicated since 2000; airs on more than 90 affiliates and is #23 on the Talkers Magazine 'Heavy Hundred' (hell, that doesn't mean much- Don Imus is #14!)

"Lionel will be an eclectic mixture of current events and off-the-wall topics infused with his special brand of humor," said new Air America President Mark Green in a press release. "Because he's one of the biggest names in talk radio, Lionel will be a very important addition to our line-up and affiliate base."

"Air America is about one thing: radio. Not about ideology; but democracy. Radio that's an alternative to the usual, bumper sticker Rush wannabe. Radio that's listenable," said Lionel in the same presse release. "My goal is to garner and gather listeners. If you've got a radio, I'm your guy. Listeners want smart, funny, thoughtful, thinking, entertaining talk radio."

Comments

[Steve]

So why the photo of Lionel Richie?

[joanie]

Boy, talk about a voice not matching the face! I thought the pic was Lionel Ritchie . . . that is Ritchie, isn't it?

Not nice to fool mother joanie . . .

Anyway, I love Lionel. I hope he plays as well in the morning as he does late at night. Sometimes the time of the day makes a difference . . .

[Rick]

syndicated taker???

[dick]

No, that's Lionel Hampton.

[joanie]

That's not Hampton! I may have to do something drastic . . . perhaps catastrophic. No more fooling, now.

[reporterward]

this blog doesn't know Lionel Ritchie from Lionel trains.

[sparky]

trains are cool

[joanie]

Mark the Redneck knows about Lionel trains . . . :)

[KS]

Lionel (0n the radio - not in the pic) is entertaining. You all will enjoy him as he is a Bush basher, but doesn't have to dwell on that.

Maybe that's why you can't trust him as a centrist - because they use too much reason and make too much sense.

[SeattleJew]

So what is a centrist? Is this akin to a capitalist roader? Is a centrist a Democrat who thinks Gregoire is wasting her opportunities or a Republican who thinks we ought to pay taxes s we can educate kids?

[god]

i have some lionel trains.

[Brian]

That is cool about LIONEL he was on the Buzz FM for about a year , it was a bummer when they took him off. I just find it hard to to think he is going days , Lionel is really wacky And Pete the wonder chimp his board oprator I hope he goes with Lionel they are a great team on the radio !

[shoreke]

Lionel should switch to his surname and simply call himself...Lebron. He would capture the attention of every sports fan in America.

[Nigel Tufnel - Lead Guitar]

Where does Lionel stand on the Imus issue? Everyone else is throwing their two cents in on this major event of modern times so we might as well hear what Lionel has to say, okay? Ya know?

"None.....nore more black."

[mamba]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_%28radio%29

[Tommy008]

Lionel -great vocabulary, great sense of humor, reall pep and energy. oh and , unlike wannabee intellectual Medved(he confuses intellect, with copping a sneering, contemptuous attitude), Lionel actually graduated from law school.