Morning Report - News from Aug. 16, 2001

TELEVISION/RADIO

Taking a Stand for ‘Democracy Now’

A few dozen protesters gathered outside the North Hollywood headquarters of KPFK-FM (90.7) Wednesday morning, in support of the show “Democracy Now” and its host Amy Goodman.

In the latest flare-up in her ongoing battle with Pacifica Radio over program content and other issues, Goodman was not heard locally--or in most of the nation--for two days running. She claims she was physically accosted by a station executive at New York City’s WBAI-FM last Friday and has been subjected to perpetual harassment.

Tuesday morning, she recorded her show from Manhattan’s Downtown Community Television and Wednesday she was embroiled in negotiations with Pacifica. Goodman says that she won’t return to the WBAI studio until her “physical safety is not threatened.”

Utrice Leid, WBAI’s interim general manager, says Goodman’s complaints are without merit. “The vast majority of us here beg to differ with her characterizations,” she told The Times.

In the past, Goodman has charged that Pacifica had tried to “exert political control” over her and her program.

‘Jackass’ Host Says He’s Bolting the Show

Johnny Knoxville, host of MTV’s controversial stunt show “Jackass,” has announced that he’s leaving the show after 10 months on the job to pursue his movie career. Knoxville, whose real name is P.J. Clapp, told his hometown Knoxville News-Sentinel that his departure is linked to eroding support for the show, which was criticized for triggering copycat behavior on the part of some viewers.

MTV scaled back the show from twice to once a week in February, he said, and has refused to proceed with a proposed “Jackass” book and soundtrack. It also moved the show back an hour to 10 p.m. to weed out younger viewers. “We told [MTV] we would do specials down the road,” he said. “But this is enough.”

MTV, it seems, had no prior knowledge of Knoxville’s sentiments. “As late as Tuesday night, the executive producers have been discussing another season with him and the crew,” a network spokesperson told The Times.

The last of the second season’s 24 “Jackass” episodes aired Sunday--and as usual, was the network’s highest-rated program for the week. MTV plans to rerun all previous episodes in its current time period without any change of content.

Latest Moves on the CNN Front

CNN has been working on a new assignment for anchor Willow Bay since Lou Dobbs returned to the network earlier this year and displaced her at “Moneyline.” Insiders said Wednesday her new duties will include anchoring the weekend business show “Pinnacle,” and, most probably, co-anchoring a weekday show, in development, to be seen mornings on the West Coast. No decision has been made on a co-anchor. Insiders also confirmed that CNN has approached radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh about doing a new show. The show could help counter perceptions that CNN favors liberal viewpoints and fend off stiff competition from the Fox News Channel.

QUICK TAKES

Drew Carey, Ryan Stiles and friends resume their weekly Thursday night improv shows at the Melrose Improv, starting tonight at 9. Tickets are $15. ... The Sci Fi Channel has bought a new season of 22 original episodes of “Stargate SG-1,” starring Richard Dean Anderson.