Don Imus returned to radio this morning with a new home on WABC. What people probably did not count on were the two new additions to the show's cast which include Tony Powell (sports caster) and Karith Foster (sidekick) – both African American. The reviews are out and although some tried to be nice, the consensus seems to agree that Imus’ return to the airwaves was a disaster.

There was talk of Foster’s hire being a way to pander to the Black community, and while this is a distinct possibility, this ignores Foster’s pedigree, which should actually make her much more than a sidekick and instead, perhaps the one holding the leash.

However, even some of Imus’ supporters were disappointed with his politically correct come-back, the rehashing of the Rutgers incident, as well as his new sidekick:

...more boring and dry inside baseball... rehashing the Rutgers story... all the stuff we all agreed here he should not do, he is doing.

I hope it gets better from here because this is unlistenable.

He sounds old and tired and he cannot present his thoughts well. His new black sidekick is terrible. Her humor is generic and does not fit in with the show.

Still others encouraged critics to give Imus a chance to get back in the groove:

Good grief, it's the man's first day back. I would agree with you if he talks about it next week - even tomorrow - but you can't expect him not to bring this issue up his first day back.

I say give him a few weeks to see how this shakes out. 

I see both sides of this debate and wonder if bringing Foster on was part of a ploy to keep Imus’ racist, sexist and classist venom to a minimum. According to the New York Times, Imus admitted to being chastened and humiliated over the last few months. He was even quoted vowing, “I will never say anything in my lifetime that will make any of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave me.”

It seems obvious to me that while Imus might have found a new home, the powers that be are keeping a close watch on him to make sure that there is not a repeat of the incident that put his career on life support back in April. What with the new additions to the staff and the repetition of apologies, Imus appears to be on a tight leash. I’d encourage listeners to give Imus a little time to get warmed up and used to the new restraints. Maybe the Imus fans remember and loved will return but without all of the toxicity he displayed before.