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77WABC Remembers Bernie McGuirk

Curtis Sliwa and Frank Morano anchored the coverage during the usual Bernie & Sid In The Morning timeslot. They welcomed a bevy of guests to discuss the life and legacy of McGuirk.

Barrett News Media

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77WABC was in the unenviable task of remembering Bernie McGuirk Thursday morning after the morning host passed away at the age of 64 after a battle with prostate cancer.

Curtis Sliwa and Frank Morano anchored the coverage during the usual Bernie & Sid In The Morning timeslot. They welcomed a bevy of guests to discuss the life and legacy of McGuirk.

Station owner John Catsimatidis told the crew he was told Wednesday evening that McGuirk was likely to pass. “I knew something was wrong because every Sunday I would go to church and light a candle for Bernie. And last Sunday, I lit a candle and I would send it to Bernie by texting it to him. And for the first time, I did not get an answer back. And I gulp in my stomach. There’s no other way to say it. You guys worked with Bernie for a long, long time, and you know how much more than I knew him. He was a great guy, he said it the way it was, and he people respected him because he would say it the way it was — the way he felt — without mincing any words. He has been missed for the last few months, and will be missed.”

Bill O’Reilly joined the program to discuss the legacy of McGuirk.

“It’s my honor to talk about McGuirk,” he said. “I always called him by his last name because that’s what Irish guys in New York do,” O’Reilly said before noting he and McGuirk have lived similar lives from their Irish home upbringing in the Bronx to news radio and television stardom.

“I put him on television with (Greg) Gutfeld for Gutfeld & McGuirk, as McGurik would demand, McGuirk & Gutfeld. And there were two together and me. And we would just kick it around. A fabulous segment, and he took that edge and brought it to WABC. When we think about Bernard McGuirk’s life, the capstone of his life was the enormous success he had with Rosenberg. I’ve said this before — and I don’t blow smoke with anybody, you guys at WABC know that — what Bernie and Sid have done in the morning is unprecedented. It’s never happened, not only in New York but anywhere in the country. You take a station that is basically over in the marketplace. Number 22 or 23. (John) Catsimatidis buys it, Lopez is there, they reconfigure the talent and now in the morning it’s number one.”

Sid Rosenberg spoke about the relationship he had with his co-host and friend.

“It’s a tough morning,” a somber Rosenberg said before thanking Sliwa and Morano for hosting the show, as well as those who had called in to remember McGuirk. “I spoke to Bernard last Wednesday — and I even made the comparison to Jim Caan’s character in Brian’s Song — his voice was so weak. We had a nice conversation. He thanked me for what I did at the Gala, and the last thing he said was ‘I love you’ and I said ‘I love you, too’. This is an immense loss. We knew this day was coming, but when it comes it’s not easy. Today’s not about me, but a lot of people turned their backs on me, but he never did. He never did. I’m just very sad today. Probably shouldn’t even call in, but I feel like I need to,” Rosenberg said as he fought back tears. “I’m gonna miss him.”

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1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Anthony Charles Costa

    October 12, 2022 at 7:31 am

    Stand up guy. Very unique and funny. Mcguruk was hysterical. Will be missed. Rest in peace BM.

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News Audio

Documentary on KMJ Coming To PBS in California

“The film was written and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jeff Aiello, with KMJ Program Director Blake Taylor as a producer.”

Ryan Hedrick

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Valley PBS and Newstalk 580/105.9 KMJ have collaborated to produce a one-hour documentary recounting the story of the renowned news talk station’s 100-year history. In the teaser trailer for “KMJ: 100 Years in the Valley,” host John Broeske jests about the non-existence of radios during KMJ’s inception. 

The documentary sheds light on the station’s influence on Fresno and the broader Central Valley of California, including its personalities, throughout the past century. KMJ started broadcasting with only 50 watts of power on March 23, 1922, which increased to an impressive 50,000 watts before WWII. 

The film was written and directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jeff Aiello, with KMJ Program Director Blake Taylor as a producer. “KMJ: 100 Years in The Valley” premieres on Thursday, March 30, at 7 PM PT.

You can view it anytime on the PBS App via Video.ValleyPBS.org or YouTube.com/ValleyPBS.

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Longtime WFLA Host Jack Harris Says He’s Been Fired

“I didn’t think I was that big of a burden on them. I was making a seventh of what I made three or four years ago.”

Barrett News Media

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Longtime Tampa radio host Jack Harris claims he has been fired by NewsRadio 970 WFLA.

“After I signed off from my show at 7:00 AM today, iHeartRadio bosses told me that they were cutting back on expenses and had to let me go,” Harris told The Tampa Bay Times. “I didn’t think I was that big of a burden on them. I was making a seventh of what I made three or four years ago.”

The 81-year-old Harris had been with the station in several tenures since 1970 but had hosted on the station for the last 29 years, most recently on weekdays from 5:00-7:00 AM as host of AM Tampa Bay.

When reached by Barrett News Media for comment, WFLA Program Director John Mamola declined the opportunity to speak on the subject.

Harris — who was insistent that he was not playing a practical joke on listeners with April Fool’s around the corner — shared he was saddened he didn’t get the opportunity to have a farewell show and thank listeners for their years together. “They are what I will miss most.

When asked what his next step will be, Harris was unsure.

“I might look for part time work on the radio somewhere,” the longtime host said. “Or maybe I will retire. I am an old geezer after all.”

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Joe Rogan: Media Leaves Out ‘What It Doesn’t Want Front and Center’

“All it is, is like ‘January 6th. January 6th. Did you see what they did? — Trump is coming back’.”

Barrett News Media

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Podcast host Joe Rogan has grown weary of the news media’s coverage of certain events and shared his belief that it only cares about presenting one side of arguments.

During The Joe Rogan Experience, the eponymous host shared his displeasure with the way current events are reported on.

“The media has lost its hold over the narrative,” said Rogan. “Now, the media conveniently leaves out anything that it doesn’t want to be at the front and center — in terms of things that people concentrate on and talk about.”

He then discussed stories he believes the general public has an interest in, but aren’t being covered, pointing to large protests in France over potential reforms in social security and also protests in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for changes to the nation’s judicial system.

“And you’re not hearing a f***ing peep about it, you know?” Rogan said. “All it is is ‘January 6th. January 6th. Did you see what they did? — Trump is coming back, but January 6th looms large.’”

“How about the fact that the guy who’s the president right now can’t form a f***ing sentence? He makes up words and stumbles through things and no one says a god damn thing about it,” Rogan concluded.

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