Breaking: WRKO Dumps Reese Hopkins for Laura Ingraham
We’ve been hearing from several sources that WRKO has undergone quite the bloodletting today. We’re still trying to work out the details, but the talk radio station has officially announced that The Laura Ingraham Show will replace Reese Hopkins in the 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. slot starting tomorrow.
From the press release:
“Reese did an excellent job for us and I certainly wish him well going forward,” said Jason Wolfe, Vice President of AM Programming & Operations at Entercom New England. “These are challenging times for our industry and we need to adjust accordingly. Having said that, Laura Ingraham is one of the truly outstanding radio broadcasters in the country today, and the success of her program speaks volumes about her. She’s got strong ties to Boston and New England, has tremendous brand equity in this market and will be a fabulous asset to the WRKO programming lineup.”
Yeah, but will she offer to fight a city councilor from Lynn? We doubt it.
If Reese or any other disgruntled WRKO employees are reading this and want to dish, you can reach us at daily@bostonmagazine.com.
Photo from WRKO website
October 16th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
that’s too bad. i was starting to enjoy his show. wrko has been stinky as of late. getting rid of the local news and going with a national syndicated news irritated me.. i loved listo fisher, and loved the LOCAL news reporting about local stuff.
meh. stupid radio station.
October 16th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Noooooo!
This is really disappointing. He was doing a fantastic job. Please say he’ll be getting another local gig!
I’ve been a WRKO listener for decades, but my iPod is looking better and better with each programming decision.
October 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
This SUCKS! Reese was the best talk show host on that station! What a loss. I guess it’s back to the FM dial until 3pm each day again.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Laura forced me to stop listening to wtkk during her evening hours. I lean to the left, but Resse was great on many levels. I will never listen to this wine bucket Ingrem– she is terrible!!! Wtkk was wise to dump her– I guess avoiding Wrko between 10 and 3 will comense today.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:46 am
That’s terrible! I’m very disappointed. I was really looking forward to Reese’s take on Powell… I like Laura, but I loved Reese. Hope some other radio station picks him up. (by the way, I am listening through WiFi from Montreal, Canada)
October 20th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I have finally had it with WRKO— Reese was a source of humor in a time when everything is so serious…. I have tuned out of your station completely except for Howie….you have made a second BIG mistake, the first being Finneran….
October 21st, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I think the only reason Reese was cut was because he’s a black man who is conservative. They didn’t want a conservative black man to influence the black people in Boston. So they cut him off, and replaced him with a conservative white woman who obviously will have less influence on the black communities around Boston area. In other words, a black male conservative will obviously have more influence over a white female conservative in communicating to the black populous in the Boston area about the “issues”
I am an angry black Chick who is a business owner!!! AKA Jolass the plumber!
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Wow this sucks Reese was the man.I really enjoyed his program.Laura is annoying to me so I’ll be listening to 96.9 FM during this time slot and encourage the rest of you to do the same.If we’re lucky maybe they’ll bring back Reese if there is a slip in the ratings.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I am really disappointed that Reese was terminated. Over the past few months I have had the pleasure of listening to him and encouraged my husband to listen. Now you replace him with Laura Ingraham. Not a really wise decision. If you were going to repace someone make it Tom Finneran. I have no idea how someone with his record can resurface on the radio and people actually listen to him. Have you forgotten what he did as Speaker of the House??? So with this move WRKO has lost two more listeners.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Ingraham is probably THE best talk radio show today (apologies to Rush and a couple others) & needs a prominent place here. Reese had his qualities (as being a ex-host of a Conn station where he was told to button up on anti-Clinton stuff or they’d lose their license) but was another in long list of so-called conservatives who loved to talk about sex to make sure everyone knew they not “prudish”. I’m sure he’s innocent of the charge but he’s just not a full blooded conservative.
October 27th, 2008 at 12:50 am
WOW Ingraham is horrible, reese was a good guy really down to Earth a good host now all i have is Finneran & Carr But if they let Finneran Go I’m Done with AM all together. Also i Dont think he Did
(PS) Cooksey see what happens when you hang up the phone on me?
October 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I have been a long time listener of WRKO. I have heard a lot of personallitys come and go. When Finnerin came in I listened for awhile. I started getting bored with him. The 10 to 12 people I could take or leave. When Reese came on the scene I was committed to listening to him. This morning I heard Laura. It didn’t have the same pizas as Reese.
Now I can listen to my Country music and oldies from 6a to 12p. Then it’s Rush and Howie.
March 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Loved Reese. hope he gets out of his trouble, Ihave faith in him. Good luck Reese!!!! hope you get back to Boston. Miss you, You made me laugh -out loud. Love Howie and Todd, He is also great to listen to. Thanks Rosanne Rockwell