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April 30, 2006
Radio loses a legend
The Premiere Radio Networks syndicates some of the heaviest hitters in talk radio, Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, Coast to Coast AM, Jim Rome, and Phil Hendrie among them. Jim Rome has been talking up his big decision, finally in the past week announcing he'll stick with some form of radio, be it terrestrial or satellite. Premiere can breathe a little easier. But in a surprise announcement on Thursday, April 27th, Phil Hendrie announced his retirement. The last show will be on June 23rd and will end a 30 year radio career and a show that has been running in its current format since August of 1990.
Hendrie is a talk radio legend and is widely respected in the comedy world. Larry David has called him, "a Fucking Genius," (capital 'F' and 'G' is my emphasis). His show was unique. The characters he did formed the basis for an interactive improv show for three hours each night. The show tackled subjects ranging from politics to racism to pilots claiming they sucked a witch into their engine on Halloween. There probably won't be anything like him on radio again.
He retired to pursue an acting career, "It’s time for me to take them [his characters] from behind the microphone and present them in front of the camera," said Hendrie. Currently he can be seen on NBC's midseason replacement Teachers. I doubt that gig will last long, but Hendrie should land on his feet. I hope he finds something to showcase his talents, but I can't help but think he's leaving the perfect vehicle for his brand of humor. Here's a great article for further reading on his TV prospects, his background, and his radio show.
It's a sad day for radio, but good luck Phil.