Left of the Dial

I watched Left of the Dial on HBO. This isn't going to be a review of the documentary or anything, just some thoughts and emotions I'll share...

I've mentioned many times that I'm a loyal listener to Air America Radio for 365 days now. I love it. It is the only thing I listen to on the radio with any kind of frequency. I'll pop on NPR from time to time, but for the most part, when I'm in the car on a weekday between Noon and 7p, it's 1340AM here in Philly on the dial and that's it. Franken for three hours followed by Rhodes for four. And at work, it plays from my little speakers all day.

This documentary took me behind the scenes to see the commotion from a fortnight before the launch to the station count as of about a month ago which they listed as 48, but is now 51! Not too shabby for the first year. They're in just about every single major market and they're also on XM and Sirius nationwide which is huge. I hope that with this latest round of investment even more advertisers will join in and the station will spread even further. After a little while, copycat shows will arise, but that may take awhile in this political climate and with a ton of money being thrown AAR's way.

It was really nice to see Randi get a lot of face time. She received absolutely no press during the launch phase of AAR. Al Franken and Janeane Garofalo being touted as its stars. Granted they did have the nationwide name recognition and star power to bring in a bunch of people who may not have listened otherwise, but once they started to listen, Randi's star was rising. Her first day on AAR featured the now infamous call from Ralph Nader where they got into a bit of a screaming match and Nader ended up hanging up on her. She had made her mark in a big way and I was behind her 100%. I agree[d] with her wholeheartedly that we could not afford to vote for Nader in 2004 and we couldn't. But we still lost.

Which brings me to another section of the documentary, the election coverage. I haven't really thoguht back on the week leading up to and after November 2^nd at all recently, but seeing the footage brought back some strong feelings. Feelings of unity, strength and anticipation and then that sinking feeling we had. It was just perfectly captured with Janeane's slumping posture while broadcasting live from a NYC bar; she just looked devastated in the then empty bar late at night watching the map of America growing redder with each shot. Seder right next to her was looking just as dilapidated with his crooked bow tie. But then it was November 3^rd and AAR came back guns a blazing and that cheered me up. We had to fight back. Regain our country, county by county, School Board by School Board, Senator by Senator. What they helped to build, nationwide, for the seven months leading up to the election had to be doubled and then doubled again for the midterm elections and again in 2008 and I believe that it will.

If you missed it, you can catch it on HBO when they re-air it. Here's the schedule.

Comments

[Josh]

It got me a little emotional and choked up too. I've been enjoying AAR since it came on the air (I especially liked the Sundance TV version of the Franken show leading up to the election). I haven't listened so much since November but Left of the Dial reminded me what I've been missing.

[Vince F]

just really geting into AAR in Philly, and love it. Can't get enough!! Was trying to find it on WHAT. Thought I did one nite, but gave up. Heard a caller say they were in the burbs and couldn't get it, like if in the city he could, so I tried it again and am geting it, though it is weak. Was thinking about geting XM but I like NPR, at least for now, since the conserves sound like they are going to HACK That up. I question everything that I hear, and hope that I won't have to question everything that NPR says. Heard they should Just have music, so I may not be listening.