John McDonald fired from WGAN

[Fred Ziffel]

WGAN weekend host John McDonald was fired after 25 years. McDonald, 75, is the second longtime host the WGAN released in the past month. John McDonald, who has hosted a weekend talk show on WGAN for 25 years, said he's been fired from the Portland radio station.

 

[Gregg.]

Well, I'm sad to hear this show is gone. But even many large market talk stations no longer employ any weekend hosts. If you hear a live voice on the weekend in most cities, it's someone who paid for the time to push their business or product.

McDonald's show was heard Sat. & Sun. morning from 6 to 10 a.m. It was a chance to hear local talk with Maine lawmakers and newsmakers being interviewed... or just listeners calling in to discuss whatever topic McDonald had offered. I'm sure there were plenty of times he'd just have to talk to himself on weekend mornings before many folks were up!

 

[RSKaz]

At 75, management probably felt John was too young for WGAN's audience.

On a personal note. Many years ago I took over John's position as copywriter at WPOR, Portland ME. After giving me a general rundown I asked John if there was anything else I needed to know. Without a word, John tapped the lower right hand drawer of his wooden desk with the toe of his shoe. I opened the drawer to find several full 'nips' bottles of whiskey. We looked at each other, smiled, and the rest is (albeit blurred) history.

John was also extremely generous in sharing paid agency work. He and I often worked together doing character-voice sports for a number of long-running ad campaigns. He's good people.