Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

It appears Air America is coming under some tough times. First a report in the Radio Business Report claims that the network is set to lose its New York flagship station (WLIB 1190 AM) as the station will switch to other programming when Air America's lease there expires Aug. 31.

Garofalo gushes over Scientology-linked project

And now host Janeane Garofalo is under criticism and being hit for touting a controversial Scientology-linked project.

Jeannette Walls of MSNBC wonders why the host is pimping the project and delivers 'The Scoop' in her daily MSNBC column.

Walls reports:

The actress and talk-show host has done two segments on her Air America radio show “Majority Report,” heaping praise on the controversial New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a program based on the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

On one show, her guests included Leah Remini, star of “King of Queens” and a devout Scientologist, who sang the praises of the detox project.

***

Next up - the criticism:

Although the Detoxification Project has been heralded by some Sept. 11 first responders, it has also been blasted by the chief medical officer for the New York Fire Department after its validity was questioned by a number of health-care workers.

“The usually sharp, well informed and at times cynical Garofalo is typically more skeptical,” noted Rick Ross of Cultnews.com, who said one show “came across as something like an infomercial.”

***

Even some of Garofalo’s regular listeners were disappointed:

“I lost all respect for this show tonight,” one listener posted on the “Majority Report” Web site. “Why are they pumping up Scientology and junk science?”

***

She also had a defender - well sort of:

“Janeane is usually a great talker, good with guests, and very insightful,” noted one. “The fact that she’s insanely in the wrong tonight won’t make me dismiss all the great radio she’s contributed, that would be Scientology thinking.”

***

At one time I believed Air America could thrive using the angry liberal market as a base. But if they are off to the world of "junk science" as the listener suggests - they risk losing that audience as well.

Air America has insisted that they will remain and "will not go silent on the New York City airwaves," but none of this can be helpful.

I tuned in early and returned a few times, but the absolute lack of actual radio talent makes it impossible to stick. The liberal network may be in real trouble.

--Jim Roberts