Legendary New York Metropolis radio host Bernard McGuirk has died on the age of 64 following a “brave” battle with prostate most cancers, his station introduced Thursday.
McGuirk — who hosted WABC’s “Bernie & Sid within the Morning” with co-host Sid Rosenberg — died Wednesday night time surrounded by household at an area hospital, the station mentioned.
McGuirk had been off the air in current months as his most cancers was exacerbated by appendicitis and pneumonia, buddies mentioned.
The Bronx native and Lengthy Seaside, NY resident left behind his spouse Carol and his two youngsters, Melanie and Brendan.
McGuirk had been on the air within the metropolis since 1986 and was the longtime govt producer of the nationally syndicated program “Imus within the Morning.”
In 2007, McGuirk moved to WABC with Don Imus, the late radio icon, and his “character from day one dramatically improved the camaraderie and morale of the complete radio station,” the station mentioned in an announcement.
McGuirk had co-hosted “Bernie & Sid” since 2018, and his skills lately propelled it to the top-rated morning radio present in New York, after the station was purchased by John Catsimatidis’ Crimson Apple Media Group Inc. in March 2020.
“We simply began doing issues the best way radio was meant to be. We went again to primary formatics and we didn’t let massive company considering or corporation-type considering the place it was finished for the cash; it was finished for what the product was and we invested within the product,” WABC president Chad Lopez advised The Put up in regards to the present’s rise to the highest of the scores.
“We allowed him to be who it was and that’s an enormous a part of the success of the present,” he continued.
“He was capable of simply be himself and simply do it and that’s what made that present primary. He was witty and didn’t mince his phrases and simply spoke the reality.”
The present reunited McGuirk with former colleague Sid Rosenburg, who he had as soon as labored with on “Imus” and overwhelmed in a 2003 star-studded charity boxing match that raised $250,000 to combat pediatric most cancers.
“You had that good mixture of politics and popular culture and sports activities and leisure from two guys that labored collectively on and off for 23 years and genuinely favored one another,” Rosenberg advised The Put up Thursday.
“You already know, like Mike and the Mad Canine, they hated one another. And Opie and Anthony, they ended up hating one another. We by no means obtained there. You already know we at all times beloved one another.”
The 2 had been paired collectively on a trial foundation within the leadup to the 2016 presidential election, the place McGuirk, a Donald Trump supporter, would spar within the sales space with Rosenberg, who supported Hilliary Clinton on the time.
When “Bernie & Sid” premiered, then-President Trump was one in all their first visitors.
“He was remained keen on Bernie and he’s identified me for a very long time and the very very first thing he mentioned when he hopped on the air was ‘ Bernie you’ve been a pal of mine for thus lengthy, and Sid you too, however Bernie even longer, so I’m comfortable to be right here,’” Rosenberg recalled.
In recent times, McGuirk was a visitor commentator on some Fox Information reveals.
One of many “Bernie & Sid” present’s most beloved segments was a 9:40 a.m. trivia spot referred to as “Beat Bernie,” the place listeners may compete towards McGuirk’s historical past experience for the possibility to win prizes in a “Jeopardy!” fashion match.
“The telephones would gentle up,” mentioned Lopez, who estimated McGuirk received 95% of the time.
“That was the characteristic that we knew that we had that the market took to.”
A key to the present’s success was McGuirk’s large character — although he was an introvert by nature, in response to his boss.
“He wasn’t massive on displaying as much as occasions and all that however when he had that mic in entrance of him that introduced out who he actually was,” Lopez mentioned.
“From colleagues to buddies to household to even folks, strangers on the road revered Bernie and beloved him.”
McGuirk’s shut relationship with WABC colleague Curtis Sliwa, who he changed when the Gaurdian Angel and Ron Kuby had been fired from WABC in 2007, exemplified his personable grace, the broadcaster recalled.
You possibly can think about how tough that was,” Sliwa mentioned of being canned in favor of McGuirk.
“There was no love, however Bernie made it really easy. He goes ‘I do know what you’re going by as a result of we went by it simply over a yr at The FAN,’ once they obtained fired.
“He mentioned ‘ we’re brothers in solidarity,’ trigger he was from the streets, the tasks of the South Bronx, and I’m from the streets – so we clicked,” Sliwa mentioned.
The 2 grew so shut that the previous New York Metropolis mayoral candidate even as soon as championed him on the “Howard Stern Present.”
“I had my alternative to pay tribute to him. I used to be invited on the Stern present, and you understand how Howard hated Imus. And all I did was give tribute to Bernard McGuirk; how extremely vital he was to that present. He was the spine of that present. And straight away he [McGuirk] mentioned ‘what a pal. Nobody has ever mentioned that about me, and particularly on ‘The Howard Stern Present.’ That resonated,’” Sliwa mentioned.
In 2003, McGuirk infuriated Stern with a skit wherein McGuirk made off-color remarks about Stern’s then-girlfriend Beth Ostrosky.
“He [Stern] was stunned that I gave all of the intricate particulars about how Bernie would communicate to Imus who at instances would simply have a meltdown. He was a relaxing impact. It was like ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ at instances. He would feed Imus data, as a result of bear in mind Imus was on the ranch. He would learn the books – Imus didn’t learn the books – Bernie learn the books as a result of Bernie was an avid ebook reader. And he would feed the knowledge to Imus.
“With out [McGuirk] there would by no means have been an ‘Imus within the Morning’ present on TV or radio.”
McGuirk’s tenure with Imus was not with out controversy. He referred to as the Rutgers College basketball staff “hard-core hoes” on air in 2007 and referred to the staff as “jigaboos,” prompting Imus to name the athletes “nappy-headed hoes,” leading to his dismissal from MSNBC.
Even by adversity, McGuick was true to himself on air and in life, and remembered his many years on the air fondly whereas speaking to Lopez final week.
‘“I’m simply comfortable that my entire profession … doing every part the best way I need to do it and it got here again to primary with my buddy Sid,’’ McGuirk lately mentioned, in response to Lopez.
The “100% Irish” McGuirk might be remembered on the air subsequent Tuesday in a day-long tribute that can resemble an “Irish wake,” Sliwa mentioned.
“It's going to deal with Bernie the comedian, Bernie the entertainer, Bernie the pal of so many individuals. It’s going to be a optimistic uplifting day wherein we bear in mind the most effective of Bernard McGuirk which works again over years and years and years,” Sliwa advised The Put up over the cellphone from the WABC studio on Thursday.
Sliwa had additionally battled prostate most cancers and mentioned he urged his pal to get handled final yr when he started having severe signs.
“In his reminiscence, males ought to know and ladies who're with males ought to advise them: simply get the blood take a look at. It’s a easy prick of the finger, a PSA take a look at. Had Bernie gotten that, he would possibly nicely be alive as we speak.”
A heartfelt written assertion issued by Lopez referred to as McGuirk the “spine of this complete radio station.”
I do know lots of people are going to overlook Bernie the radio man, and they need to,” Rosenberg advised The Put up by tears.
“In fact he's and can at all times be one of many best radio voices within the historical past of our enterprise, however over the previous 23 years I grew to become very very very shut with Bernie the individual, and when you thought he was good on radio – haha – it's best to have gotten to know him in actual life.”
Post a Comment