from Herald messenger blog
WRKO gets new host; Feinburg close to new deal
Reese HopkinsWRKO-AM is getting a new host, the only full-time African American on Boston’s two major talk radio stations, while Todd Feinburg is close to signing a deal to co-host the morning-drive show with Tom Finneran, the Herald has learned.
Reese Hopkins, who filled in on WRKO (680 AM) six weeks ago, starts tomorrow in Feinburg’s old 10 a.m. to noon slot, leaving Feinburg without a show.
Most recently, Hopkins worked at Sirius Satellite Radio as an executive producer for “Ask the King” on Howard Stern 100. He was also the lead news anchor and director for the former “Star & Buc Wild Morning Show” on New York radio.
A station source said Feinburg had been working at WRKO without a contract.
The source said a deal for Feinburg to co-host with Finneran is close to being done but the two sides are still negotiating the terms of the agreement, including salary. An Entercom source disputed that, saying negotiations are done and Feinburg is no longer with the station.
Program Director Jason Wolfe said the station offered Feinburg another position at WRKO but that he declined. Wolfe wouldn’t say what position they offered Feinburg.
This summer, WRKO tried-out Feinburg with Finneran for about a month.
Feinburg, who has been with WRKO for five years, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Finneran debuted as WRKO’s morning-drive host in February and the station recently anounced a new roster of regular on-air contributors to help boost his show.
The former House Speaker is set to undergo surgery to remove his prostate on Friday but will be back on the air Jan. 2. Finneran was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Finneran, who could lose his license to practice law, appeared before the state Board of Bar Overseers again today.
UPDATE: Below is WRKO’s official release:
REESE HOPKINS TO JOIN WRKO
New host to bring blend of pop culture, politics and humor to Boston airwaves
BOSTON, MA (December 17, 2007) – Boston’s Talk Station, WRKO AM 680 today announced that Reese Hopkins will join the station as its new mid-morning host replacing current personality Todd Feinburg. Hopkins will sign on Wednesday December 19, in the 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. time slot. Feinburg was offered another position at the station, but declined.
“Reese is a tremendous young talent,” said Jason Wolfe Vice President of AM Programming. “We brought him in several weeks ago for a trial and his energy and passion for this format left a very strong impression on me and on our audience. I think he has unlimited potential and am very pleased to bring him on board.”
Prior to joining WRKO, Hopkins worked at SIRIUS Satellite Radio as an Executive Producer for “Ask the King” on Howard Stern 100. Hopkins also served as lead news anchor and news director at the highly-rated “Star & Buc Wild Morning Show,” which aired on New York’s Hot 97.1 (WQHT-FM) and Power 105.1 (WWPR-FM). He was the program’s lead correspondent during and in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.
Hopkins has also been featured as a panelist on television programs including “The John Walsh Show” and “BET Tonight with Ed Gordon.” Recently Hopkins has written for variety shows such as “Mad TV” and “Saturday Night Live”. Hopkins’ show will feature lively discussion about the day’s hot topics, with heavy doses of pop culture and political discussion.
“This is a dream come true for me,” Hopkins said. “I’ve spent five years in radio in New York in a co-host position and through that experience have developed my own style and personality. Hosting my own show will allow me to be recognized individually. The Boston audience will get a chance to learn things about me and my views no matter how personal or painful. My show will cover all issues from politics to race relations to Hollywood. I want to thank WRKO for giving me an opportunity to fulfill this dream and I look forward to this journey with them.”
Hopkins is a 1991 graduate of Fordham University with a degree in Psychology and Music. Before starting his career in radio, Hopkins founded and performed in the hip hop group Beatmarket, which toured with top artists KRS-One and Digable Planets.
Howie’s column from today’s Herald
Advil defense hard to swallow
By Howie Carr | Wednesday, December 19, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Columnists
Convicted felon Tom Finneran should only be crying one kind of tears this Christmas - tears of joy, that he’s not spending the holidays in Club Fed, where he so obviously belongs.
How many times do I have to tell this crooked hack - self-pity is not good box office.
And now, in his pathetic attempt to keep his law license, despite his preposterous perjury to the First Circuit Court of Appeals in 2003, the should-be jailbird comes up with yet another ridiculous defense: he’s an Advil junkie.
Felon Finneran now claims he was “gulping” 16 Advils a day when he got up on the witness stand and started lying.
Move over, Twinkies, here comes The Advil Defense. You thought Oxys were bad, have you ever seen anyone in the throes of an Advil jones?
When Tommy Taxes was first elected, the House speaker was Tommy McGee. He used to tell stories about his days as a “knee-walkin’ drunk,” as George Bush would say. McGee’s Sunday oh-my-God-the-packy’s-closed drink of choice was either mouthwash or aftershave, I can’t remember which one.
But now Felon Finneran tops poor McGee. He was hooked on Advils.
Didn’t he say earlier this year that he was overcome with the compulsion to lie because his sainted bride needed a ride to Mass. General? He used that lame excuse when he copped the plea to Judge Stearns on the one count of obstruction of justice.
But these days, you always need a new excuse. So now Alibi Ike was on Advil, plus he was angry about being called a racist, just because he was trying to disenfranchise black voters in the city of Boston. How dare those black people sue him! Hey Tommy Taxes, you know who really feels your pain - Sen. Robert Byrd.
So Tommy’s lost his ticket, at least temporarily. His $32,000-a-year state pension is also history, and as an aside I’d like to advise the State Retirement Board: Don’t even think about giving him back his kiss in the mail.
I know, he’s going under the knife next week. Of course, I went under earlier this year and he took the opportunity to suggest that he and Deval and the Staties put me in the trunk of the Coupe DeVille. Not that I’m bitter, you understand. Unlike Tommy, I live by the words of James Michael Curley. Never complain, never explain.
The fact is, Tommy Taxes has caused a lot of weeping himself over the years. Like, when he deep-sixed the death penalty, approved by a vast majority of Massachusetts voters.
This is a guy who thought he was the smartest man in the room. Maybe he was, but only if the room was at the State House. In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man shall lead. His highhanded tactics drove out anyone with an IQ over 80. Two words sum up the state of the Legislature when Tommy Taxes ran it: “Chairman Kujawski.”
During his perjury binge, Finneran claimed he knew nothing about the redistricting scheme. See, it was being handled by another of his three-watt acolytes, Tom Petrolati, who told the grand jury that he did not know what river the Mystic Tobin Bridge spanned. After listening to Petro, the grand jury did not indict him. They believed he was that stupid. They were right.
Promoting only the likes of Petrolati and Kujawski, Felon Finneran turned a deliberative body into little more than a sheltered workshop for the unemployable, which is now, let’s face it, what Tommy Taxes is - unemployable.
I was looking forward to finishing him off personally, but alas, it was not to be. Someone else will have to ice him, not that it’s a tough assignment. Tommy ought to look on the bright side - my sources say he’s got at least 14 months left on his contract, not that I’m counting the days, you understand.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1054716
You know, I really didn’t enjoy Todd on the radio, but he seems like a nice person, and it’s too bad he’s being shafted in this way.
Merry Christmas!!