WRKO came to their senses in dumping former Imus producer Bernard McGuirk before he was scheduled to "guest host" with Tom Finneran, who's about as popular as the Yankees in Boston. McGuirk was scheduled to co-host the morning show Wednesday through Friday. "Julie Kahn (VP/Marketing Mgr. for the station) and Jason Wolfe (Program Director) have decided not to go ahead with the guest hosting of Bernie this week". George Regan of Regan Communications, which represents station owner Entercom also added: "Maybe in the future. But not at this time." The future meaning sometime between never and, well - never...
No doubt there was pressure exerted on station management from the community not to bring in McGuirk, who was described as 'racist' by several black community leaders in Boston. McGuirk was the instigator in Imus' "nappy-headed hos" bombshell, which cost the I-man his job...
WRKO acted out of desperation in the hiring of McGuirk. Tom Finneran has dumped about one-third of its morning drive numbers in the key 25-54 demographic, compared to the same time last year. They would have grabbed a better audience than they have now for the 3 days of Bernie McGuirk but at what price???
10 Timeline Memories...
- 1892] Dental floss is next: Dr. Sheffield, a British dentist, invents the toothpaste tube. How in the world do they get the toothpaste into the tube?...
- 1900] Who needs money?: The Associated Press is incorporated as a non-profit news cooperative in New York (you know they'll find a way to make a few bucks though)...
- 1954] Bar Mitzvah Boy: Robert Zimmerman is bar mitzvahed in Hibbing (MN) after taking private Hebrew lessons. Robert became a man and changed his name to Bob Dylan. Mazel Robert...
- 1963] A Bronx rain-maker: Mickey Mantle blasts a home run off the facade atop the rightfield upper deck in Yankee Stadium. Two more feet and Mantle would have been the first and only player to hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium in fair territory...
- 1967] Will the real Bud Collyer please stand up: "To Tell The Truth" bows out after 11 seasons. The original panel consisted of: host Bud Collyer, Polly Bergen, Hy Gardner and Hildy Parks, soon replaced by Kitty Carlisle...
- 1977] I am woman, hear me roar: Janet Guthrie becomes the 1st woman to earn a spot in the Indy 500 since its inception in 1911...2003] Annika Sorenstam becomes the 1st woman since 1945 to tee off against the men in the Colonial Golf tournament in Fort Worth (TX) but will miss the cut...
- 1980] Wedding Bells: Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue swap "I Do's". We're not sure which one wore the bridal gown though...
- 1992] "The show tonight is our farewell show": With that, Johnny Carson hosts his final show with Bette Midler singing to him. There was not a dry eye in the audience or at home. Johnny started hosting the show on October 2, 1962. What a run!!!
- 2002] "Happy Trails": 2002] The remains of Chandra Levy, the federal intern who disappeared more than a year earlier, are found in a Washington (D.C.) park. California congressman Gary Condit is questioned because of his personal relationship with the intern...
- 2004] Don't buy any green bananas Adriana: Christopher's girlfriend Adriana gets whacked on the "Sopranos". Christopher joined her 2 episodes ago...
Music Memories:
- 1967] "And Flo, she don't know": Florence Ballard appears with the Supremes for the last time on "The Tonight Show". In July Motown replaces her with Cindy Birdsong...
- 1961] #1 on this date: "Mother-In-Law" - Ernie K-Doe...1966] "When A Man Loves A Woman" - Percy Sledge (although Michael Bolton tops the charts in 1991 with his version, Percy's is still the best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cK42IByqnE ...1972] "Oh Girl" - Chi-Lites (Paul Young would cover this song years later with a very good version but there's nothing like the original one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haxRG0Bas0Y...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
For all you fans of what real radio used to sound like, "The Big 89 Rewind" will bring back for one day the following Chicago radio names of the past: Larry Lujack, Fred Winston, Tommy Edwards, Jeff Davis, John Records Landecker, Chris Shebel and a whole host of former WLS alums on WLS 890 on Memorial Day, May 28th from 5 a.m. to Midnight. You don't have to be in Chicago to listen. You can click online at: www.wlsam.com . WLS is one of many legendary stations doing this, including WABC. More details forthcoming...
Gordy Brown on the passing of Gus Saunders: "Gus was part of my broadcasting history as I was his first producer on the WNAC AM Boston Kitchen show back in the 60s. He was a great guy and always easy going and fun loving. I also remember him as one of the Yankee Weathermen and newsman on radio. Gus was also in early black & white TV doing news on channel 7 in Boston when I first came to town in '59." - Gordon Brown...
I will ditto Gordon's remarks about Gus being a great, easy going guy and I'll add this, had the climate been right back then, Gus could have had a national cooking show and been quite successful with it...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Naomi Campbell (37), Bernie Taupin (57), Bernard Shaw (67), Richard Benjamin (69), Peter Nero (73), Michael Constantine (80), Charles Aznavour (83) and Judith Crist (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until Memorial Day and 18 days until the Belmont Stake...
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