"Novel," "unusual," and "complex" are all ways you could describe Fox News personality and black man-maybe hater Sean Hannity's new radio deal that he just inked. It is all those things because it involves an arrangement between Citadel's ABC Networks, who currently broadcasts his show, and Clear Channel's Premiere Radio, which will broadcast the show on stations Citadel doesn't own. Oh, and also: Hannity, the second most-listened to radio personality after Rush Limbaugh, will earn $100 million over five years, plus a cut of profits. A huge payday for a conservative pundit. How novel. [WSJ]

Teflon radio host Don Imus is back. Nearly eight months after he judged the hair care regime of the Rutgers women’s basketball team, Imus has retuned to the airwaves.

To avoid seeming racist, Imus has taken the “I have black friends” approach. The new show, airing on WABC, will feature two black co-hosts, Karith Foster and Tony Powell. Balancing that out, long time producer Bernard McGuirk, who first called the Rutgers team “some hard-core hos,” has also returned.

Even with a more “diverse” cast, and all the awkwardness from April, Imus said, “The program is not going to change.” Thanks, Don. We could use another media controversy around here.

Fans of opinionated white males, rejoice. Don Imus officially will be back on the air starting December 3. After all that nappy-headed ho drama with CBS, Imus signed a contract with WABC and will be national distributed through Citadel Broadcasting. The lesson: never underestimate talk radio’s reluctance to find new talent. [Reuters]

As Don Imus approaches a deal that could leave him wealthier than before the Rutgers incident, the National Association of Black Journalists is getting pissed.

In a statement, NABJ’s vice president said,

It seems inconceivable that less than a year after Imus was dismissed from CBS Radio and MSNBC for his vicious insults upon the Rutgers women's basketball team, that Citadel Broadcasting and Fox News would consider putting him back on the air.

It’s not surprising that Citadel Broadcasting is looking to make money. What’s hard to swallow is that Don Imus, despite being, well, Don Imus, will help them make money.

Fox News was actually never involved in the deal. Apparently being amazed that black people can behave themselves is fine, but mocking the haircare of a women's basketball team crosses the line.

Twenty million dollars and a few nappy headed hos later, Don Imus is back. Imus is in talks with Citadel Broadcasting, which owns ABC radio, for a new show.

There’s no word on what the contract will be worth, but if his new one is worth more than half of the old one, he’ll come out on top.

He won a $20 million settlement from CBS Radio, half of what the remaining years would have been worth. So if he garners a contract worth more than $20 million, he made money from getting fired.

The lesson for all aspiring radio personalities: racism pays.

[Variety]