Opie And Anthony Suspended

Imus Show Speaks Softly, Briefly on Ed Schultz

Although ABC, CBS, and NBC completely skipped over the Ed Schultz slurs of Laura Ingraham, some may have wondered whether Don Imus talked about it on his Fox Business show on Thursday. After all, his "nappy-headed hos" joke got him forced out of MSNBC. Might he suggest Schultz could have gotten fired like him? For the record, it came up briefly, and not early in the show, but it came up for a quick once-over, with Bernard McGuirk giving it a sharp, running start:

BERNARD McGUIRK, producer: Some loudmouth on MSNBC who nobody ever heard of just got suspended over there for saying this about Laura Ingraham.

ED SCHULTZ clip: President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin Missouri on Sunday. But you know what they're talking about? Like this right-wing slut, what's her name, Laura Ingraham -- yes, she's a talk slut.

IMUS: What?

McGUIRK: My God.

IMUS: Who is that?

McGUIRK: It's some guy named Ed Schultz; some talk slob is actually what he is.

IMUS: He was talking about Laura Ingraham.

McGUIRK: Laura Ingraham, a 'talk radio slut' -- 'right-wing slut,' he called her. Yes. Anyway she responded --

IMUS: Come on, man.

McGUIRK: She says that she was surprised to learn that Ed Schultz actually hosted a radio show, is it only available on-line. Apparently he made these comments on a radio show he's on. Then she got in a plug for her book that's coming out in July "Of Thee I Zing," very, very ingeniously. And anyway, this guy whoever he is, he apologized last night before his suspension went into effect.

ED SCHULTZ clip: On my radio show yesterday, I used vile and inappropriate language when talking about talk show host Laura Ingraham. I am deeply sorry and I apologize. It was wrong, uncalled for, and I recognize the severity of what I said. I apologize to you, Laura, and ask for your forgiveness.

McGUIRK: At least he did equivocate, for those who were offended and all that.

IMUS: Yes, I mean, that's a pretty straightforward apology.

McGUIRK: At least give the guy that. But anyway --

IMUS: And you know what? I know we're not supposed to be -- not in the business of plugging other radio stations and stuff, but I kind of listen to Opie and Anthony when I'm at the ranch. But I listened to Lupica yesterday. You listen to him, Lou?

Post-'Hos World: Opie & Anthony Suspended By XM - FishbowlNY

Radio companies — even satellite ones — appear to be tightening up in a post- Imus world. Yesterday, XM suspended shock-jocks Opie & Anthony 30 days for a homeless man’s comments about Condoleezza Rice , Laura Bush and Queen Elizabeth , aired last week on the show. The suspension follows last week’s cancellation of The Dog House with JV and Elvis show by CBS Radio for a prank phone call to a Chinese restaurant.

Opie & Anthony’s latest suspension, though, seems to’ve stemmed from comments made during yesterday’s broadcast, which appearently ticked off XM management:

“Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday’s broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter. The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them.”

Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh and his “ Barack The Magic Negro ” bits soldier on, unscathed.