NYC Radio: 77WABC Airing Day-Long Tribute To Bernard McGuirk

Beginning at 6am Wednesday morning 77 WABC Radio will present an all-day special tribute to Bernard McGuirk, who passed away last Wednesday from prostate cancer. McGuirk, who had been co-host of WABC’s Bernie & Sid in the Morning with Sid Rosenberg since April of 2018, helped bring WABC back to the top in New York, reaching #1 in share of the 12+ audience in morning drive in the August Nielsen ratings. 

McGuirk was known to New Yorkers and worldwide for his quick wit, his knowledge of world and political events, and his humor.

The all-day tribute begins on Bernie & Sid in the Morning and will continue throughout the day as friends, colleagues, and fans share their memories. Legendary NYC radio news anchor and air personality Charles McCord, who worked with McGuirk during their years together on Imus in the Morning, will make a rare live on-air appearance between 9 and 10am. A very special announcement for the McGuirk family will be made by WABC Radio owner John Catsimatidis during his Cats Roundtable program between 5 and 6pm.

Guests throughout the day include:

• NYC Mayor Eric Adams
• Charles McCord (Radio Host, Formerly of Imus In The Morning)
• Bill O’Reilly (WABC Radio host)
• Chazz Palminteri (actor and author)
• Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo
• Warner Wolf (formerly of Imus in The Morning, and cable news host)
• Janice Dean (Fox News meteorologist)
• Bo Dietl (Actor, Podcast Host)
• Pete Morgan (longtime sponsor of the Bernie and Sid Show, Owner of Peerless Boilers)
• Peter King (Former Congressman)
• Connell McShane (Fox News)
• Mike Breen (NBA Play-By-Play Announcer)
• Rob Bartlett (Comedian)
• Tom “Bigfoot” Bowman (Fox Business)
• Carley Shimkus (Fox News)
• Patsy Siciliano (longtime fan, avid listener of Bernard McGuirk)
• Michael Gunzelman (outkick.com)

John Catsimatidis, who bought WABC in 2020 and made it the cornerstone of his Red Apple Media, explained, “We are airing this special all-day tribute to honor our friend and colleague, who loved New York, radio, and his listeners. We’ll have the opportunity to bid farewell to a wonderful man who reached WABC Radio listeners around the world every morning with his unique take on the news.”

“Bernie’s observations and analysis of world and local news and politics were not only insightful; they were authentic,” noted Chad Lopez, President of Red Apple Media and WABC Radio. “His brilliant mind, combined with that New York attitude to give listeners what they wanted... the truth! We will miss him.”

McGuirk had been with WABC since 2007 as Executive Producer of the Imus in the Morning Show, where he was also featured as the program’s quick-witted on-air contributor. McGuirk added color to local and national news updates with his own take on the serious and not-so-serious news of the day. McGuirk was with the Imus In the Morning show since its latter days at WNBC Radio. He made the move with Imus to WFAN Radio in New York City in 1988 and remained there until 2007. McGuirk was also part of the Imus team when the show became nationally syndicated in 1993.

In 2016, McGuirk teamed up with Rosenberg to co-host WABC’s Bernie & Sid in the 10am-Noon midday slot, before the two eventually moved to morning drive. Early in his career, McGuirk worked various jobs within NBC in promotions and also at the network and local news divisions.

Born in the Bronx, New York City in 1957, McGuirk was a graduate of the College of Mount St. Vincent. He is survived by his wife Carol, and their two children, Brendan and Melanie.