WMJI 105.7 FM in Cleveland bid farewell Monday to longtime morning personality John Lannigan. After some 51+years in the business, 40 of them at WMJI, Lanigan's departure drew a considerable amount of media attention.
Making good on retirement plans announced in January, he signed off shortly after 10 a.m. Monday on a hall of fame broadcasting career, according to cleveland.com.
"It's been a great time," he said. He told his on-air colleagues he loved them back, and ended with "Thank you."
Characteristically for him, and probably fitting for someone ending a half-century of rising for work at 4 a.m., he wrapped the show much as usual, without tears or sentimental sign-off.
The final show capped a send-off week -- a rarity in radio -- that featured a who's who of guests from entertainment, politics, sports and Lanigan's life.
Jimmy Malone, Chip Kullik and Tracey Carroll, who will continue on the show. Mark Nolan, Lanigan's frequent vacation fill-in the past two years, will move from middays to helm the morning show starting Tuesday.
Making Lanigan's retirement the lead story on the morning news, Kullik called him "Johnny Legend" and said, "This is your house."
Ceremoniously trashing his battered briefcase, Lanigan left the studio to loud applause from a bigger crowd mobbing the hallway, and -- completing another radio ritual -- made a beeline past a waiting cake for the men's room.
Lanigan was "The Show".....Now that he's gone there will be a ratings decline.....This threesome will eventually be broken up.....Mark Nolan will be moved to the overnight WMJI shift.....Malone will go back to stand up comedy.....Tracy will leave radio to start another career.....My condolences but Lanigan was a one of a kind legend on Cleveland radio.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will be quite the doom and gloom stated in the other comment here. Lanigan was off as much as he was on over the past few years and the segue will be smooth. As long as the 'formula' is kept in place the show will do fine.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Nolan's name billed first? Why can't Malone get top billing?
ReplyDeleteWhy is Tracey Carroll not billed at all?
ReplyDelete