Replies

from Boston Radio Watch:

"WRKO AM 680's midday talk show host John DePetro has been suspended by Boston's AM talk station for the comments he made on his show earlier today. Conservative DePetro was put on ice after making disparaging statements about Mass. Turnpike Authority Chairman Mat Ammorello (sp!) on his 9am-Noon program. DePetro, like the rest of WRKO's local line-up, has been extremely critical of MTA's chief following the ceiling collapse of the I-90 connector last Monday night. The remark that got DePetro in the penalty box was his reference to Amorello as "fag Matt". WRKO's popular afternoon driver Howie Carr calls Amorello "fat Matt".

"A veteran talk radio source compared the severity of DePetro's crime and punishment to the infamous METCO flap courtesy of WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" morning show back in the fall of 2003 : ""Stupid thing to say sure but this hardly rises to the level of METCO or what you can hear (any morning) on FM radio". "Dennis and Callahan" were suspended for two weeks.

"DePetro's 2-day suspension will run through Thursday(7/20) which ironically happens to be the day when Arbitron ratings for the spring survey period will be released. According to the Herald report, DePetro's show was tied for 18th place with the suburban music station WXLO-FM during winter months.

"DePetro has been hosting WRKO's early midday program since August 2004. While his suspension is in effect, the midday slot is being fronted by WRKO's bencher and Radio Equalizer blogger Brian Maloney who confirmed the fill-in assignment on his blog. As of this writing, DePetro didn't return BRW's request for a comment on his suspension."

>>DePetro's show was tied for 18th place with the suburban music station WXLO-FM during winter months.

Better to have local than syndie in a town like Boston, but is Glenn Beck warming up in the wings?