After a 12-year run, Tavis Smiley gave his last commentary on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show." In summing up what Tavis meant to the TJMS, Tom Joyner wrote:Before Tavis came on board, I was happy with almost every element of our show, but something was missing. I had the vision of educating and empowering our listeners, and Tavis helped me make that happen. ... Tavis called it radio activism. I called it a party with a purpose. It gave our show the balance of music and comedy it needed.A search is underway for the next voice "to elevate, educate, entertain and inform Black America." I am honored to be one of eight candidates who will compete to be the next Commentator. ...
Joyner's "party with a purpose" is heard by over 8 million listeners in 115 markets. It's also available live at BlackAmericaWeb.com.
The order of on-air auditions was determined by lot. So my tryout is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15 at 8:10 am ET. The winner will be announced in September.BTW, it's not a popularity contest. Instead, finalists will be rated on, among other things, the topicality of their five minutes of commentary.
The TJMS is building a Web page for each finalist where you can go and weigh in on who should be the next Commentator. The site will be up next week. In the meantime, please forward this post to your friends and leave a comment with suggested topics.
Back in the day, the Temptations sang, "Vote for me and I'll set you free." Now I ain't promising all that. But as a lifelong activist, I promise thought-provoking commentary that will empower listeners to "get up offa that thing" and get involved.
Comments: (68)
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By: Cecil Jones on 6/30/2008 11:45PM
Tavis Smiley could have and should have "Just Given Credit Where Credit Was Due." This is my job and the proper song would be "So Fresh and So Clean." Ain't nobody dope as me! I was the one who mixed Hip Hop and politics. I was the one who used my relationships and spoke directly to power paving the way for Obama. I suggested "We Can" and "WE Did!" I enlisted Oprah and I set the 2004 ticket with Kerry-Edwards. This job belongs to me! Ask the NAACP? Tavis, John Edwards, John Lewis, Obama, Sally Jesse, MSNBC, CNN, Oprah and check out my commentary. I defended Gov. McGreevey and helped send Elian home. What's a Brother got to do to get an audition? Who's Bad? I'm Bad! Pick a topic or go to "Thecitizensjournal.com." My stuff is all over that site.
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By: Jim on 7/01/2008 1:02PM
i don't know who will fill those shoes..i thought Mr. Smiley did an awesome job keeping it real when a lot of Black men, knuckle under for whatever reason...Right On Tavis
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By: misty on 7/01/2008 6:54PM
Good riddens to him! After what he did to Obama, he needs to go, maybe his self serving, egotistical boring show on PBS will soon be canceled.
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By: LORETTA on 7/01/2008 6:58PM
Praise the Lord!!!! I never could stand his voice anyway I am glad he will be off the air. You know how sometimes a person may be talking and they have something stuck in between their teeth? They may be saying important but all you can do is stay at the particle in their teeth? Well that how I felt when we he would speaking no matter what it was he was saying his voice irritated me to bad to listen. Woo I am glad I will no longer have to listen to he scratchy voice in the morning.
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By: LORETTA on 7/01/2008 7:03PM
Cecil Jones, Do you really have to beg like that? After all the wonderful things you may have done you should have left it at that. You got to ghetto for anyone to respect you now you lost your vote by saying "Who's bad" and whatever else you were rambling about. And stop using this site to promote your trash.
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By: Nancy on 7/01/2008 8:51PM
Thank the Lord and good riddance. I used to be a Tavis Smiley fan, but for the past 3 years, I have not been a supporter. The disrespect and indignance towards Barack Obama totally put me over the edge for my dislike of his comments and philosophies. It seems of late that he drinking that popular drink in the 'hood called "Hatorade". It's too bad he choose to go the low road, but oh, well...
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By: K.M. on 7/01/2008 10:47PM
He won't be missed.
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By: Robert Alexander on 7/01/2008 11:00PM
07-01-08
On the Tavis Smiley hole in the soul of the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Tavis will be missed by friends, booster and detractors alike because of how he said what he said and his talent to "Speak To {Power"
I offer this humble suggestion to TheTJMS Production Crew: broaden the experience base by using more that one voice to talk about an issue with depth, experience, insight and knowledge. One person is seldom able to cover a range of topics.
Tiger can talk about Golf, Michael can talk about Basketball, Barry can talk about Baseball, Gordy can talk about managing talent, Quincy can talk about producing music Mrs Michele Obama can talk about grooming statesman etc.
In essence ,A transition over a period of time will reveal the right format for the TJMS of 2008 and beyond.
Robert Alexander
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By: Robert Alexander on 7/01/2008 11:01PM
07-01-08
On the Tavis Smiley hole in the soul of the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Tavis will be missed by friends, booster and detractors alike because of how he said what he said and his talent to "Speak To {Power"
I offer this humble suggestion to TheTJMS Production Crew: broaden the experience base by using more that one voice to talk about an issue with depth, experience, insight and knowledge. One person is seldom able to cover a range of topics.
Tiger can talk about Golf, Michael can talk about Basketball, Barry can talk about Baseball, Gordy can talk about managing talent, Quincy can talk about producing music Mrs Michele Obama can talk about grooming statesman etc.
In essence ,A transition over a period of time will reveal the right format for the TJMS of 2008 and beyond.
Robert Alexander
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