Bernard McGuirk

Bernard McGuirk is the executive producer of the "Imus in the Morning" radio program. He was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York, where he also worked in his younger years as a taxicab driver. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268970,00.html "Imus Producer Bernard McGuirk Speaks Out"] , FOXNews.com, April 27, 2007] McGuirk has worked in radio and television since 1986 after he graduated from College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York in the Monroe Projects. According to the MSNBC website, McGuirk is married with two children and resides in Long Beach, New York.

On air persona

In addition to serving as the show's producer, McGuirk's role on air was that of antagonist to Don Imus, often referring to him as "a wrinkled-up old buzzard" or "scrotum face", while Imus referred to him as a "bald-headed stooge".

McGuirk was also known for his humorous impersonations of notable celebrities, including John Cardinal O'Connor, Edward Cardinal Egan, C. Ray Nagin, Muhammad Ali, and Maya Angelou.

Controversies

On the "Imus in the Morning" show, McGuirk was not known to shy away from saying whatever was on his mind, and always in a heavily accented "Brooklyn cabdriver" deadpan that seemed to both amuse and horrify Imus in equal measure. Imus' sidekick, Charles McCord, often played the role of the instigator, doing his best to egg on McGuirk's famously insensitive but humorous remarks and quips.

For example, after the release of "Christian Science Monitor" reporter, Jill Carroll, who was kidnapped in Iraq, McGuirk stated:

:"She strikes me as the kind of woman who would wear one of those suicide vests. You know, walk into the tent or try and sneak into the Green Zone."

McGuirk, whose political views appeared to skew to the center-right of the political spectrum, often made leading Democratic leaders the subject of his scorn. Regarding Presidential aspirant, Barack Obama, McGuirk stated:

:“He’s a neophyte, no experience, it’s all because he’s half black, it’s patronizing, he’s Oprah’s guy.”

After Imus tried to interrupt him, McGuirk went on again to say it was patronizing to support Obama, and referred to him as, “...a jug-eared neophyte.”

On March 16, 2007, while broadcasting from Boston in honor of Saint Patrick's Day, under the guise of Cardinal Egan, McGuirk referred to Imus as a "satchel-faced bastard", a "clueless old creep", and a "Jurassic jerkoff". Continuing his skit, McGuirk later asked Imus as to whether, "...Anderson Cooper was taking it in the pooper", and then accused Imus of being a "Brokeback-looking 'ol lizard", whose wife was having an affair with younger men the moment that Imus left New York City.

Rutgers basketball controversy

McGuirk played a major role in an on-air incident on April 4, 2007 that caused a nationwide controversy and ultimately led to Imus and him being fired. During a discussion of the Rutgers University women's basketball team, Imus characterized the players as "rough girls with tattoos." McGuirk responded in his familiar "urban-speak" vernacular by referring to them as "hardcore hos". The ensuing "urban-speak" conversation involved Imus describing the girls as "nappy-headed hos" and McGuirk wondering if Imus meant to imply that the two teams looked like something out of Spike Lee's film "School Daze", the "jigaboos versus the wannabes"; apparently referring to the two teams' differing appearances. Imus said "Yeah." Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson condemned Imus for engaging in and condoning the use of racial slurs and racially insensitive words. Sharpton and Jackson demanded Imus's immediate firing.

On April 11, 2007, MSNBC announced that it would immediately stop simulcasting the show. Originally, both CBS and MSNBC had announced a two-week suspension of the program. The next day, CBS fired Imus and canceled "Imus in the Morning," effective immediately. CBS President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves stated:

The day before, CBS chairman Sumner Redstone said he trusted Moonves would "do the right thing", but didn't elaborate.

McGuirk was noticeably absent the following week when other Imus contributors, including newsman Charles McCord and sportscaster Chris Carlin, were on the air with the WFAN replacement team of Mike Francesa and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.

McGuirk was fired by WFAN on April 19, 2007. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18233374/ "Imus sidekick-producer McGuirk also fired"] , MSNBC.com, April 20, 2007]

Post-firing

On April 26, 2007, McGuirk appeared on the Fox News Channel program "Hannity & Colmes" to discuss his dismissal. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268970,00.html "Imus Producer Bernard McGuirk Speaks Out"] , FOXNews.com, April 27, 2007] On May 14, 2007 he reappeared on the program to debate Al Sharpton on the events that led to the cancellation of the "Imus in the Morning" program. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,272093,00.html "The Great Debate! Bernard McGuirk vs. Rev. Al Sharpton"] , FOXNews.com, May 14, 2007]

On May 2, 2007, McGuirk made a guest appearance on Jay Severin's radio program. Although there was some speculation in the media that the sometimes controversial station might be auditioning McGuirk for a job, executives of WTKK denied that this was the case.

Boston, Massachusetts talk radio station WRKO had scheduled McGuirk to appear as a co-host with Thomas Finneran from May 23, 2007 to May 25, 2007, but canceled the appearance after enduring several days of public criticism. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,273633,00.html "Radio Station May Hire Ex-Imus Sidekick Bernard McGuirk"] , FOXNews.com, May 18, 2007] [ [http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/05/21/wrko_cancels_appearance_by_mcguirk/ "WRKO cancels appearance by McGuirk"] , "The Boston Globe", May 21, 2007]

Return to the airwaves on WABC

McGuirk returned to the airwaves with Imus on December 3, 2007. Along with serving as the executive producer, he also has an on-air role. The program is now heard on WABC in New York as well being carried on stations owned by or affiliated with the ABC Radio Network. RFD-TV simulcasts to a largely rural audience.

References

External links

* [http://imusblog.com/ The Imus Show Blog]
* [http://mediamatters.org/items/200704040011 Rutgers controversy] (Media Matters)