On my morning drive I'm usually listening to either NPR's Morning Edition or The Freak Show with John Renshaw on 810 AM, one of the local sports stations. On drives home I'm usually listening to The Dog House with Jason Whitlock on 610 AM, the other sports station. Yesterday afternoon, Whitlock had "DA", 610's morning show host, on the air to do some promos. They all launched into rants about Renshaw, how he talks about ACC basketball at the expense of local teams, how he's never sober on the air, how he never shows up, and most offensively, mocking him using a lispy sort of voice. DA pretty much just stopped short of calling him a fucking fag.
Now I like Renshaw's show. It's more tongue in cheek that other sports shows, and I always found it kind of amusing. Plus, he has excellent bumper music. It was apparent that he had some sort of problem. I remember one show a while back where he admitted as much, but I couldn't tell whether it was a substance abuse problem or just some sort of mental problem.
Well, apparently something brought on the mocking of Renshaw on yesterday's afternoon show. It looks like Renshaw had some sort of meltdown on the air yesterday and was yanked:
Internet chat rooms are in a fever pitch these days with the rumor that sports talker John Renshaw, host of the "Freak Show" (6-9 a.m.) on WHB-810, had a total on-air meltdown Wednesday (11/10) morning and was promptly taken off the air. He supposedly began questioning station management and went into a full on-air rant until he was silenced.It has been rumored for months that Renshaw had either a drug-alcohol-mental problem and his behavior has often been erratic. He reportedly has been officially terminated.
If that's the case, it really is too bad. He was definitely my favorite morning show host. If he's done on the air in Kansas City, I certainly hope he gets the help he needs.
Also, I would kill for a recording of the on-air meltdown. Is there one floating around anywhere?
Posted by Ryan Olson at November 12, 2004 11:00 AMI am also a loyal Johnny Renshaw fan from back in the day when he was in Chicago on One-on-one Sports. I have been waiting for him to get back on a national show as I live in Grand Rapids, MI. I loved John's show, his passion for sports is incredible and he was very entertaining. It is unfortunate he has personal problems hurting his career at this point. He is simply the best.
Posted by: Scott Brisbin on March 26, 2005 09:50 PMHe now has a show in the evenings locally, but he doesn't seem to take it all that seriously. He takes off a lot of time, and the hosts who fill in for him never seem to be happy to be covering for him. When he is in, the show is pretty half-assed. He frequently goes to break early and you're left with over a minute and a half of bumper music.
I get the feeling that either he's contractually obligated to stay on the air here or they're contractually obligated to keep him on and he's pushing back as hard as he can without violating the terms of his contract. It kind of sucks, and I doubt he'll be able to get another national show behaving like this.
It's most upsetting that I've been tuning in during the NCAA tournament, which really is his thing, and even those shows are weak. Too bad, really. Maybe he'll do better if he can get out of here and start over somewhere else local. I'll miss him on the air here, but I don't think he's doing anybody any good staying in KC.
Posted by: Ryan O. on March 28, 2005 08:59 AMI worked with him, on his show, and it is a shame he is a good person and very talented but refused to get himself the type of emotional help he needed to rid himself of his demons and become a star in radio. However Im sure he would argue those demons are what made him the great radio personality he was. I disagree.
Posted by: Jim D on June 29, 2005 12:31 PMIf you are looking to get a hold of our mutual friend, the Freak, he has a new website: www.johnrenshaw.com
John Renshaw is alive and well!
Renshaw- Greatest EVER!!! I used to love listening to the Frewak Show when I was in college on Maryland's Eastern Shore. I wish he'd turn up on Sirius NFl Radio and replace that ass-clown Adam Sheign.
Posted by: Eric on December 16, 2005 02:31 PMRenshaw- Greatest EVER!!! I used to love listening to the Freak Show when I was in college on Maryland's Eastern Shore. I wish he'd turn up on Sirius NFL Radio and replace that ass-clown Adam Sheign.
Posted by: Eric on December 16, 2005 02:32 PM|
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