Air america lays off rachel maddow show writer

"Thanks for being all professional," said Rachel Maddow (KPTK m-f, 3-5p) to sidekick Kent Jones," so I can be petulant. I madder than hell."

The comedy writer announced Tuesday he was leaving the show at week's end.

"It's a business decision by Air America," he said,

This means of course that he's being laid off as a economy move by the flailing network.

Jones came to Air America from Comedy Central's “The Daily Show,” where he was a writer for five years. Jones and his fellow writers won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Writing In 2000, and has got a Peabody for Excellence in Broadcasting.

Before coming to Air America, Kent worked in Los Angeles as a producer at Oxygen and ABC, winning nothing. Kent then joined Air America Radio in 2004, writing and performing on Unfiltered, Morning Sedition, and The Marc Maron Show.

We're disturbed by his leaving the Maddow Show. He's a bright and funny writer, and one of the reasons why Maddow's news formatted show is so tight and fresh. Radio talk shows don't usually hire comedy writers, and we were always impressed, not only with his work, but that he deigned be on the radio.

We wish him luck and a hearty "Sacajawea!" And hope he'll drop us a line to tell us where he lands.

Comments

[abob]

Rachel Maddow enjoys many attributes but she will never be mistaken for a comic. Maddow needs Kent Jones like a fish needs a bicycle.

[joanie]

aboob: Rachel Maddow enjoys many attributes but she will never be mistaken for a comic...

Which is why she needs a comic along side.

But, Jones isn't the one. I don't think he's funny. (Stephanie Miller has the best I've heard.)

Kent may be a good writer - I don't know - but he should be writing for somebody else instead of himself.

[Tommy008]

oww! ohh! i just sprained my ankle leaping across the room to switch my radio off before the reptilian Dr. Laura came on, and i had to listen to one second of that harridan's evil, arrogant voice.

[Tommy008]

oww! ohh! i just sprained my ankle leaping across the room to switch my radio off before the reptilian Dr. Laura came on, and i had to listen to one second of that harridan's evil, arrogant voice.

[Tommy008]

oww! ohh! i just sprained my ankle leaping across the room to switch my radio off before the reptilian Dr. Laura came on, and i had to listen to one second of that harridan's evil, arrogant voice.

[Tommy008]

oww! ohh! i just sprained my ankle leaping across the room to switch my radio off before the reptilian Dr. Laura came on, and i had to listen to one second of that harridan's evil, arrogant voice.

[Tommy008]

oww! ohh! i just sprained my ankle leaping across the room to switch my radio off before the reptilian Dr. Laura came on, and i had to listen to one second of that harridan's evil, arrogant voice.

[Tommy008]

oww! ohh! i just sprained my ankle leaping across the room to switch my radio off before the reptilian Dr. Laura came on, and i had to listen to one second of that harridan's evil, arrogant voice.

[sparky]

wtf? Looks like I will get me an MP3 player and podcast Stephanie, Thom, Rachel and listen to Mike Malloy on NovaM network online. They dont have financial problems anymore...this is just the personal preferences of Mr. Green at the helm. I hope Rachel is given the MSNBC show and between podcasting and listening to other stations online, I wont have to listen to Air America again.

[Stan Wiser]

Big mistake letting Jones go. They compliment each other. He balances the VERY HEAVY news component of Rachel's show.

He's usually funny and on the mark.

I wrote to the program director of Air America, Dave Bernstein, to complain, I suggest you do too!

[sparky]

I will do that..

[Rich]

SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Capt Jack]

oww! ohh!

Air America should just make a call to the Boys and Girls Club.

[Bill's Mom]

Stan wrote: "I wrote to the program director of Air America, Dave Bernstein, to complain, I suggest you do too!"

Bill's Mom replied: David Bernstein was laid off last month so I guess that won't work. Anyway, Rachel is a critic's choice, but she'll never get ratings.

[joanie]

And her laughter at Jones' jokes is forced.

C'mon you guys. We liberals are supposed to be honest. The guy's a dud.

And I'll be surprised if she gets a show on MSNBC. She's too wordy.

But I do listen to her. She's does provide a lot of information. Which I like.

[Todd Cory]

"And her laughter at Jones' jokes is forced."

Wow, it fooled me. I honestly think they make a good team and am sad that AAR seems hell bent to shot themselves in the foot.

Todd

[sparky]

Joanie, I have to disagree with you about Kent Jones..his humor is subtle and ironic. There is something more to this, something that explains the Greens getting rid of Sam Seder...Air America is financially solvent and based on Rachel's angry surprise, it happened without telling her ahead of time. Humor is personal, though. You dont find him funny but I do. I dont find Mark Maron funny at all, but a lot of people like him.

[Tommy008]

tALENTED comedy writers should not be fired.Now may i get on to my main topic? I believe the reason for the virulent contempt many of us feel for Dori, besides his asinine rightist/fascist views, is due to the fact that he still, after all these years on the air, slurs and poorly pronounces his words in a lazy, ignorant way like a little kid or young teenager. Probably Daddy Monson pronounced words in this ignorant, low class manner as the liitle Dorrster smarted off between mouthfuls of Wheaties at the dining table of his childhood, in the "crackerbox" section of Ballard. For a man as bright as Dori boasts about being, it is a condemning factor against him that he, as a so-called professional speaker, either has never recognized this flawed, poor quality speech pattern, and done something to correct it, or simply doesn't give a crap about it. As I mentioned before, this kind of substandard speech is perfectly acceptable for a paper hat- wearing Dick's employee, but it is not acceptable for a local talkradio "star".

[Tommy008]

tALENTED comedy writers should not be fired.Now may i get on to my main topic? I believe the reason for the virulent contempt many of us feel for Dori, besides his asinine rightist/fascist views, is due to the fact that he still, after all these years on the air, slurs and poorly pronounces his words in a lazy, ignorant way like a little kid or young teenager. Probably Daddy Monson pronounced words in this ignorant, low class manner as the liitle Dorrster smarted off between mouthfuls of Wheaties at the dining table of his childhood, in the "crackerbox" section of Ballard. For a man as bright as Dori boasts about being, it is a condemning factor against him that he, as a so-called professional speaker, either has never recognized this flawed, poor quality speech pattern, and done something to correct it, or simply doesn't give a crap about it. As I mentioned before, this kind of substandard speech is perfectly acceptable for a paper hat- wearing Dick's employee, but it is not acceptable for a local talkradio "star".

[Tommy008]

tALENTED comedy writers should not be fired.Now may i get on to my main topic? I believe the reason for the virulent contempt many of us feel for Dori, besides his asinine rightist/fascist views, is due to the fact that he still, after all these years on the air, slurs and poorly pronounces his words in a lazy, ignorant way like a little kid or young teenager. Probably Daddy Monson pronounced words in this ignorant, low class manner as the liitle Dorrster smarted off between mouthfuls of Wheaties at the dining table of his childhood, in the "crackerbox" section of Ballard. For a man as bright as Dori boasts about being, it is a condemning factor against him that he, as a so-called professional speaker, either has never recognized this flawed, poor quality speech pattern, and done something to correct it, or simply doesn't give a crap about it. As I mentioned before, this kind of substandard speech is perfectly acceptable for a paper hat- wearing Dick's employee, but it is not acceptable for a local talkradio "star".

[Tommy008]

tALENTED comedy writers should not be fired.Now may i get on to my main topic? I believe the reason for the virulent contempt many of us feel for Dori, besides his asinine rightist/fascist views, is due to the fact that he still, after all these years on the air, slurs and poorly pronounces his words in a lazy, ignorant way like a little kid or young teenager. Probably Daddy Monson pronounced words in this ignorant, low class manner as the liitle Dorrster smarted off between mouthfuls of Wheaties at the dining table of his childhood, in the "crackerbox" section of Ballard. For a man as bright as Dori boasts about being, it is a condemning factor against him that he, as a so-called professional speaker, either has never recognized this flawed, poor quality speech pattern, and done something to correct it, or simply doesn't give a crap about it. As I mentioned before, this kind of substandard speech is perfectly acceptable for a paper hat- wearing Dick's employee, but it is not acceptable for a local talkradio "star".

[Jim Demetre]

from Artdish:

Jones is an amazing talent. While his presence on the Rachel Maddow Show has brought many a smile to my face, I hold him in highest esteem on account of his recurring role on the now-canceled Air America program Morning Sedition as Planet Bush Bureau Chief Lawton Smalls. I am not sure that any fictional character captures the curious psychological attributes of the contemporary conservative better than Jones' Smalls and I keep hoping he'll return.

What is wrong with Air America? Don't they understand that the discerning public now requires an element of humor with their political commentary? First Air America drops the great Morning Sedition and fires its hilarious and embittered co-host Marc Maron. Then comedian Al Franken, the network's flagship personality, leaves to run for Senate and is replaced my more earnest news programs. Now, under Green brothers of New York, the under-utilized Jones has been shown the door.

What the Air America folks have failed to understand is that "the news" have become so grim that humor is the only medium capable of conveying the gravity of the current situation. While they continue to lose stations in markets across the country (San Diego this week) the popularity of Keith Olbermann's biting and hilarious Countdown on MSNBC has the cable network considering moving towards a more left-centered, anti-FOX News format.

What the Air America management has failed to notice is that intelligent Americans are turning away from their conventional news sources and embracing the more challenging, provocative inquiry of the Colbert Report and Daily Show. Humor has become the medium of the left just as rage and fear have become the medium of the right.

If Air America fails, it will not be because the public disagrees with views it espouses; it will be because the public found its programming dull and uninspired.

[joanie]

I respect your finding him funny but I find nothing suble or ironic about him. In fact, the contrary. I think his humor is sort of juvenile. But, I mostly think he delivers it badly.

You're right, funny is different for different people and it sounds like most people on this blog agree with you. I find Rachel shrill and soemtimes forced as well, but listen because I love the "newsy" style that she does. Her's is one of the best newscasts around.

I totally agree that comic relief is a plus and would love her to find another improved personality with more diverse talents. As I mentioned earlier, Stephanie Miller has one of the best, I think. So, I'm not for offing humor...just for finding someone who can do it better.

I don't know the character "Smalls" and am sorry I missed him. As for Comedy Central being the model for future news formats; well, maybe. It might be that Americans need to learn to take some things seriously again and use their brains for analysis and decision-making rather than receptors for constant entertainment. Not all the news can be put into a funny or clever context. Sorry.

I remember when Saturday Night Live was funny . . . it isn't anymore. Is that because the people are not longer up to the comic demands (I think that's part of it - the original cast was simply unmatchable) or because what used to be cutting edge is no longer and maybe there is no such thing as cutting edge any more.

Tommy, 710DORI isn't crummy because he slurs his words. He is a jerk because of his values, beliefs and put-downs and his attacks on easy prey. I bet in another life he was a bounty hunter.

[pthom]

Tommy008:

I like Dori :)

[WebHubTel]

Joanie,
If you've never heard Kent's Lawton Smalls or his other characters from Morning Sedition (like Angus McFarquhar) you've missed the flip side of Kent Jones entirely. I will guess that Rachel kept Kept on a leash during his stay on her show, but anytime Marc Maron or even Sam Seder subbed they unleashed the Kent Jones core wild man. Kent at his core was capable of hysterical histrionics and built up his pieces in a ratcheting fashion, usually delivering with a flourish. At heart he sounds like a team player though and did whatever was required of him, and as Rachel went for the serious mixed with the corny humour, Kent obliged.

[sparky]

That is the perfect description of kent jones...thank you! But with his firing, my guess is that Rachel would have loved it had he been the wild man, but management, The Greens, thought otherwise and dumped him.

[joanie]

Thanks WHT. That clarifies. I agree with the "corny" description. Wish I heard the other.

I will miss having comic relief on her show. I know that. We'll see what happens next.

[redmanlaw]

That's fucking wrong. The end of my work day and drive home never failed to be enriched by "Kent Jones Now, with Kent Jones . . . Now", the sports reports, datelines, today's pet story ("monnkEH!"), and the cool bemused banter.
Indeed. Rachel?