Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2006 > April > 28
Friday, April 28, 2006
4/28: Rush settles prescription drug case
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s the link to the story. Sounds like it’s pretty much ado about not much in the end.
I’ll have to listen in on Monday at noon to hear if he talks about this at all. He’s on WGST-AM from noon to 3 p.m. locally.
Rush Limbaugh reached a settlement with prosecutors Friday in a fraud case involving prescription painkillers, though the conservative radio commentator maintains his innocence.
Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities about 4 p.m. on a warrant for fraud to conceal information to obtain a prescription, the first charge in the nearly 3-year-old case, said Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the state attorney. He was released an hour later on $3,000 bail.
Limbaugh’s attorney, Roy Black, said his client and prosecutors reached a settlement on a charge of doctor shopping.
Under the deal, Limbaugh would eventually see the charge dismissed in 18 months if he continues treatment for drug addiction, Black said.
Limbaugh also must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past 2 1/2 years, Black said.
Limbaugh entered a plea of not guilty in court Friday.
“Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position,” Black said in an e-mailed statement.
4/28: More on Jimmy Baron
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a fake press release, courtesy of the Buzz, playing off the fact 99X kept Jimmy’s name on the show for weeks despite the fact he was clearly no longer employed there. About 11 days ago, the Buzz added Jimmy’s name to Whip’s morning show as a pure insider joke.
Atlanta, Georgia. April 28, 2006 – WBZY, 1053 the Buzz made the announcement this morning during morning drive. The announcement was made by Jimmy’s co-host Whip. “After 12 years together, which, to me, felt like just 11 days, I’m sad to announce that Jimmy, co-host of the Whip and Jimmy show, is retiring. The professionalism, humor, and knowledge of menorahs that Jimmy brought to the show is irreplaceable. Jimmy was the true “spirit” that “was” 1053 the Buzz. To capture best the contribution that Jimmy brought to the Whip and Jimmy show we will observe a moment of silence next Tuesday, May the 2nd at 9am.” Unfortunately Jimmy was out this morning and therefore was not able to say his goodbyes to the audience on the air.
“Out of respect to Jimmy’s long standing relationship with the audience, we felt it was important to make this announcement on the air before it went public in a press release.” said 1053 the Buzz Program Director Chris Williams. “Once the decision was made we felt that misleading the audience and turning this into a protracted goodbye just wouldn’t be fair to everything Jimmy has done to contribute to the long term success of our station. We wish Jimmy nothing but the best.”
And here’s a response to Jimmy’s farewell statement from John Dickey, the soon-to-be new owners of 99X:
CUMULUS Exec. VP JOHN DICKEY told allaccess.com: “It’s unfortunate that JIMMY chose to issue a press release that is factually incorrect. For the record, JIMMY BARON’s contract expired APRIL 5th, and his agent GLENN GOLDSTEIN and I had agreed, in principal, to an offer that would give JIMMY the opportunity to match the economics of his contract as it had expired. The decision not to move forward with JIMMY had nothing to do with a dispute on salary. That’s a fact that can be verified with GLENN GOLDSTEIN.”
DICKEY added, “The decision not to move forward with JIMMY was based on two factors:
The continual ratings decline in mornings over the last 18 months,
A thorough researching of the market and of JIMMY’s role in the morning show by PARAGON RESEARCH.”
The Last Word On This?
BARON’s agent, GLENN GOLDSTEIN, contacted ALL ACCESS, and said, “I respectfully disagree with JOHN DICKEY’s comments in today’s ALLACCESS.COM regarding our negotiations for JIMMY BARON’s renewal at 99X.”
4/28: Rick & Bubba say goodbye on TS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Turner South is soon to become a Fox sports network. For more than three years, Birmingham’s Rick & Bubba have provided down-home entertainment on Turner South in the mornings. They are heard on about 25 stations, mostly in the Southeast but not in Atlanta. Their last day on the air was this morning, with a best of. They did their last live show yesterday.
They were actually in Atlanta today to promote their book, “Rick & Bubba’s Expert Guide to God, Country, Family and Anything Else We Can Think Of.” They are at Books a Million in Peachtree City at 6 p.m. tonight. I grabbed some lunch with them and they expressed disappointment losing Turner South but as Rick said, “it’s out of our control.” Their book actually landed at No. 7 on the “how to” segment of the NY Times bestseller list and hit No. 1 for a moment on the Amazon list.
Will anybody ever pick them up in Atlanta? Kicks certainly has an opening now but their local publicist John Clark says the station has never taken them seriously. The problem: Rick & Bubba doesn’t play music and Kicks is clearly focused on music and local content. Ditto with other possible stations that could pick them up. And Rick acknowledges there could be a bit of snob appeal from Atlanta since they are truly more Southern-tinged than most shows in Atlanta. And John Boy & Billy and Bob & Tom, two other syndicated morning shows, have failed here. Then again, Tom Joyner does great. So you never know…
