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Political BLOG |
 March 2008
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Who's going to turn off the lights at WHAS Radio? The Louisville radio station has told nighttime talk show host Joe Elliott that he's being laid off. Elliott has hosted the talk show for 14 years, taking over for the legendary Milton Metz who began a nighttime, local talk show 50 years ago. WHAS is a 50 thousand watt station reaching into several states, so Elliott's voice of reason was heard by thousands of listeners across the U.S. each week night. He also did a Sunday morning talk show. The station will now have a syndicated national program in Elliott's 9 p.m. time slot. Great. Just what I want to listen to. But this was clearly an economic move by the penny pinchers at Clear Channel. Elliott's show probably wasn't pulling in enough advertising revenue to cover his salary and other expenses of keeping a local talk show on the air. Elliott told WHAS 11's Doug Proffitt that he wasn't mad at his bosses. Elliott is legally blind and might have some sort of EEO complaint but I don't think there's any way that will happen. Elliott is a class act and a bright guy in a field of radio screamers and knuckleheads. I'll miss listening to him and being a guest on his program. 6 CommentsLeave a comment |
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WHAS11.com Political Blog
WHAS11 Reporters blog the latest political news from the campaign trail and beyond. 
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The informative, articulate and interesting Joe Elliott was welcomed into our homes nightly. It is a travesty to his Kentuckiana and Regional audience, that Clear Channel radio, insulted and dishonored their journalistic "fourth estate" commitment, in lieu of corporate greed and rapacity.
We will sorely miss Mr. Elliott's professional and unbiased moderation to revelerant topics, thus adversely effecting the educated and informed decisions of his loyal listeners.
Watch out Terry Meiners! They will get you next! They first did away with their late night program, now Joe Elliot. They are on their way to becoming the Starbucks of the airwaves! Nothing but nationally sydicated shows. Take a stand Louisville! Buy local!Choose Heine Bros not Starbucks!
Mark,
Like you, I've been on Joe's show several times and an avid listener. You can pick up his signal in Lexington and Richmond.
Joe is a first class man and does an excellent show. I hope another station scoops him up quickly.
Don McNay
While I disagreed many a time with Mr. Eliot's comments, I am sadden by the removal of his progam from the air. He is a class act who provided a great service to this community and commonwealth.
Hope it turns out well for him.
As a teenager I listened to Milton Metz nearly every night of the week. He was just beginning his nighty talk show. I think it was JUniper 5 2385. I listened to him for decades. Joe was a great replacement. The traffic reports and Joe Elliott are the only reasons I listen to WHAS any more. Too bad Louisville is losing a great local program. All the more reason to listen to NPR. Good luck, Joe.
I feel like I am saying farewell to a good friend. Joe Elliot shared his views and life with us for many years. It is a shame that WHAS places so little importance on integrety, honesty, and quality. Joe's voice has often been the last sounds my husband and I have heard at midnight as we have gone to sleep. Our community was once respresented by WHAS and it won many awards for its coverage of local events, but its greed will be its undoing. I wish Joe the best and hope to hear him soon on another radio station who will appreciate his gifts. He was the voice of the average man. All we are left with is a political agenda and national views. I for one will switch toally to NPR until Joe finds a new home.