The LuLac Edition #4, 658, December 30th, 2021

 TOP 5 LOCAL MEDIA STORIES 

1.       Rush Limbaugh dies and WILK goes local. After the death of Rush Limbaugh, WILK chose to go local. They also chose to go RIGHT. Nikki Stone took mid days, Bob Cordaro took noon time and Frank Andrews meandered on in his afternoon slot. When Andrews took over for the late L.A. Tarone, he said “He wasn’t going to be L.A., just himself”. Well he’s sticking to that. After the departure of John Webster, Jason Barsky teamed up with Nancy Kman. They are the bright spot in the WILK line up. Most stations across the nation have not replaced Rush because like Paul Harvey his audience was built in and only loyal  to him. Maybe one day another Rush will come along but I can guarantee you it won’t be from the 9am to 11pm programs offered on WILK in 2021.

2.       Juie Sedoni leaves WNEP TV. After a  long stint at The News Station, Julie moves to WVIA TV/FM  to be their news director.

3.       In an Election Night blooper, WBRE TV’s reporter called Judge Alexandra Kokorua Kravitz “Judge” even though the returns from Hazleton were not in. Tarah Toohil became the winner after being left for dead all night by WNEP TV2's coverage. This was the case of the local media driving the news coverage which turned out wrong. Toohil was sworn in yesterday as Judge. 

4.       GEM Oldies radio changed their frequency to 100 and 104 with a religious station taking over the old frequency of 92.5FM.

5.       Pittston native Joe Montione passed away in the fall. "Banana Joe" Montione was a nationally known radio personality who's career spanned almost 50 years and who's talent took him to some of the biggest radio stations in the United States. From his start at King's College WRKC and then WILK in Wilkes-Barre, Joe was a pioneer in the formative years of Top 40 radio. He broke into major market radio at Famous 56-WFIL in Philadelphia, where he hosted John Lennon as a guest in his home, when he was in Philadelphia to co-host a community event with Banana Joe.Joe's talented on-air skills took him to Miami's Y-100/ WHYI, to Toronto at CHUM and then to Los Angeles at the legendary KHJ.