Mike Wilson booted from WMAY
It turns out, I was on Mike Wilson's last show on WMAY yesterday.
Mike was my favorite Springfield talk-show host. He was witty and engaging and always a fun listen. I thoroughly enjoyed being on his program because we had a good chemistry between us and could just have lots of fun. It was the only show I did on a regular basis. Not sure if I'll ever do another.
The last thing I said, during the last minute of Mike's last show, was how great his program was and what an asset he was to the station. Neither of us knew what was about to happen next.
This morning Mike was fired for budgetary reasons.
I'll miss you, Mike. Good luck.
posted by Rich Miller @ 11/17/2005 03:42:00 PM
33 comments
33 Comments...
WARNING: Personally insulting and otherwise inappropriate comments (including all profanity) will be immediately deleted! Threads will be closed after 3 deletions. Try to behave like reasonable adults.Click here to notify the "Comment Posse" about objectionable posts.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
This is really too bad. I really enjoyed Mike's humor, and I think that he really grasped a younger crowd of listeners, if not young at heart. He's been there longer than some hosts, like ummm Pamela, why didn't that dump that lame host!
I'll miss Mike too.
Care to make a 3rd post, Mike?
He's no Jim Leach. Jim is the man! Wish there were more like him on the station.
Watch the language, people.
Whoa, what a turn of bad luck. That stinks.
A shame for sure, but how surprising is this from a company that has it's show hosts moonlight as news readers? I think Molson & Lee are the only hosts exempt from news duty.
I guess locally owned and operated means cheap!
Mike did a reasonable job, although I think he sometimes reached to create controversey. Nonetheless, I'll miss my 30-minute drive with Mike in the afternoon. Hope he surfaces somewhere soon.
Chris Murphy said that he will do Cake and Ferrets this Friday! Everyone call in and give WMAY ferrets and cake to Mike Wilson!!!!
Reporterbot 2000 will miss Mike's appearances in the blue room
Oh, No! I listened to him everyday during my drive home. He is a very entertaining host. What a crappy thing for WMAY to do. I don't believe the budgetary thing for one minute. They will fill that time with someone. The evening drive time is a very important slot.
I hope things work out well for him.
Mike told me just this week that his show was a 'sell-out- for advertisers. Hmmmmm.
Who else was let go for budget reasons.
I caught part of that final Rich and Mike fun-hour. Especially enjoyed Rich going to break and laughing over a commercial.
Hey Mike, there's still one PR position open at IL DNR.
Good luck, buddy.
Rich, I usually disagree with you, but on this one, you're dead on.
Mike hosted a GREAT show; I called him on several occasions. He even allowed me to call Tom a name on the show, once.
This really sucks, a sad day for Springfield.
Jim's outnumbered now.
Good Luck, Mike.
P.S. You'd make an outstanding spokesperson for a state agency.
If this was for budget reasons, why wasn't Pam removed first? Mike has been there longer than Pam. I think there is more to this than what we are reading. Maybe Mike will land a big state gig and laugh all the way to the bank.
Anon 5:14, I seriously doubt that Mike would work for this administration in any capacity.
You are probably right Rich but I would love for Mike to rub in in their face if he does. Mike had excellent guests and great show topics. What a big loss....for wmay that is.
I'm back to disagreeing with you.
I think Mike will do what he can to feed his family through the holidays.
Personally, I enjoyed listening to Mike's show when I was in town as well as the chance to be on it which I last was about a week or so ago. I hope that their justification was legit and that this wasn't just another way of chilling a good voice and outlet. Good luck Mike.
Yeah Mike was entertaining but what about a little content with that. His long pauses for lack of anything to say were real indications he wasn't prepared when he hit the air. He seemed to dwell on controversy and was much like Leech who cuts you off if you don't agree with him. Now lets hope Leech is the next target. That will really be "Cleaning Up The Air Waves".
Mike wasn't the only one to get the boot today.
Breaking news: word has it that Physical Services Director Cecil Turner was given a federal escort out of the Secretary of States office earlier today.
This could be interesting.
And...a former Gov Edgar aide took his place on an interim basis....Donna Fitts.
What a ridiculous decision. Budget reasons??? Let's do the math. From 12 to 3 they pay TWO warm bodies to be on the air, but from 3 to 6 they couldn't afford Mike, and to add insult to injury, they keep Pam who is incredibly lame and just generally clueless. Sounds like an answer we'd get from the Bush administration.
While Leach is intelligent, he's also a little irritating after a while, but Mike was not only smart, he treated his callers with respect. And Chris Murphy is hardly any better than Pam. For a while, WMAY actually pulled me away from my XM Radio (at least in the afternoons), but now I have absolutely no reason to listen to WMAY anymore.
Cecil Turner fired, 3 suspended in alleged ghost payroll scheme
Last Updated 11/17/2005 6:07:04 PM
Cecil Turner, director of physical services for Secretary of State Jesse White, was fired Thursday from his $97,932 job overseeing operations in various state buildings.
Three janitors who work for the secretary of state in Springfield - Dana Dinora, Steve Boyce and David Medvesek - were suspended without pay pending discharge Thursday, according to White spokesman Randy Nehrt. Each of the three is paid $41,676 annually.
FBI agents, Secretary of State's Police, and an inspector general's official escorted Turner from the Howlett Building, where he works, Thursday morning.
Spokesmen for White did not discuss the reasons for Thursday's actions.
Turner, however, said he was told by the FBI agents that they suspected he was covering up for janitors who were being paid for time they weren't working. Turner denied the allegations.
“I have never done anything illegal since I've been there,” Turner said of his job with White. “But there's a ton of people that haven't wanted me in that job. I know I'm being set up.”
Turner is first vice chairman of the Sangamon County Democratic Party and head of its minority caucus. He also holds appointed posts on the Springfield Liquor Commission and the State Fair Advisory Board.
Donna Fitts was named acting director of physical services, said White spokesman Dave Druker.
This is a major bummer for today. I have been let go for "budget reasons" and is sucks. It is especially bad when you have a little one to feed. I wish him well. I enjoyed listening to him on my drive home. He and Rich had great banter together. Mr. Peepers told the funniest stories on his show. I only hope that it really was for "budgetary reasons" and not because he offended some politician. I do agree with one of the other posters on his treatment of his callers being curteous.
I doubt it was for budget reasons. They still have to pay somebody to do the show and news. Plus they spent money for the warehouse and Bud on 5th. I think there is more to this than meets the eye. Maybe we will know the truth soon.
Sorry to see Mike go, the dead air they have from one to three with Molson and Lee is sickening. They could have gotten rid of two salaries instead of one with those dorks.
Jarhead
Rich, Rich, Rich. Big news and you failed to make a thread for it. Of course I'm talking about the Robin Black issue.
Molson & Lee = Entertaining = $
Wilson = Negative & Boring = No $
Hey Rich, did anyone see the Colbert Report tonight? He did a bit on AllKids... pretty harmless stuff. but still funny. and he got his name right.
Sorry to read that Mike was canned. It's like the old saying. "There are two kinds of people in radio....those that have been fired, and those who will be."
Good luck Mike
So MAY kept Molson and Lee and canned Mike Wilson. Just goes to show you that juvenile, pointless drivel will win out over thoughtful discussion and good guests every time.
Post a Comment
<< Home