THE AXE HAS FALLEN ON IMUS - STEP ONE

Moments ago, NBC News announced that it's cable service, MSNBC, would no longer simulcast Don Imus' radio programme "Imus in the Morning". The move is obviously a reaction to the radio veteran's racist comments earlier in the week referring to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as a bunch of "nappy-headed hos" among other demeaning remarks.

No word from CBS Radio, which syndicates the programme to approximately 75 stations nationwide. It had been originally announced that Imus would begin a two week suspension on Monday.

Apparantly the announcement from NBC came after several advertisers pulled their content from the programme, or advised that such a move was being considered. I wouldn't doubt that at least a few radio affiliates would dump Imus, which would eventually result in CBS seeking another show to offer and the Radio Hall of Famer to hang his head as he, without a job, takes himself back to New Mexico.

It reminds me of a somewhat similar situation --- albeit on a smaller scale --- that occured in the late 1960s growing up in Mississippi. Comedian Jerry Lewis at the time had a prime time variety show on NBC, and one week during his monologue he opened by saying that during a cross country flight he did something he always wanted to do...take a dump over Mississippi. The general managers of every NBC affiliate across the state decided almost immediately to dump The Jerry Lewis Show, and it hurt him in another way: It was years before any Magnolia State television station would consider carrying his annual Muscular Dystrophy telethon.

And so it goes...