Shock fatigue
More than a decade ago, I used to listen to Imus in New York. He was no Howard Stern, and no racist, either. For the most part, his show featured long, thoughtful conversations with prominent newsmakers of all kinds -- think NPR, but without the monotonic hosts and with a sense of humor.
But "Imus in the Morning" always had its edgy moments, too. What mass entertainment these days doesn't? This is the era of dehumanizing reality TV, of gangsta rap, of public "Scarface" swear-alongs; an age in which an insulting, God-trashing scold like George Carlin gets heralded as a comedic prophet.
Imus plays to his times, knowing that pushing the limits of good taste makes for boffo ratings. It's a dangerous game, because sometimes you get burned -- especially, as Mariel notes, if you pick on the wrong groups.
Compared to the offenses of countless others, I'm not sure Imus is getting treated fairly, with demands that he make an offering, once again, at the altar of Al Sharpton. But I don't weep for him. America's love of "shock" has grown wearisome -- and shock's purveyors make their millions at their own peril.
I think Imus has lost his balance. I know it sounds like ageism but I have known people who were funny, who walked the line between humor and really bad taste--and then, as time went by--could no longer walk that line but fell too often and too far into not cute, not funny and not appropriate. Imus is in that pit.
Interesting take, Jonathan. I've barely listened to the guy in 10 years -- mostly because he hasn't been on the airwaves in L.A. He was on here for a short while a number of years ago, and at the time I found his crudeness disturbing in a way I hadn't earlier. I chalked the difference up to my advancing age and (one hopes) maturity, plus a spiritual awakening that had happened in the interim.
But, maybe you're right -- maybe the change wasn't so much in me as in Imus himself. I recently heard someone -- I wish I could remember who -- make the same point about Bill Clinton, who once seemed so charming, yet now seems so grating. He, too, "lost his balance," could no longer walk the line.
If so, all the more reason to pity Imus (and, for that matter, Clinton) than to revile him.
Best,
Chris