Rush Limbaugh

At 73 years old, Rush Limbaugh has this physical status:

Career

The 20-year-old Limbaugh, who had dropped out of college, accepted a job as DJ at WIXZ, a Top 40 station in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in February 1971. He used the airname "Bachelor Jeff" Christie and worked afternoons before deciding on morning drive. Limbaugh's style was likened to "early Imus" by the station's general manager. Limbaugh was dismissed from the station in 1973 due to a "personality dispute" with the program director. He then took up a nighttime job at KQV in Pittsburgh, replacing Jim Quinn. Limbaugh was fired in late 1974 after new leadership pressed on the program manager to fire him. Limbaugh recalled that the general manager told him that he would never land as an air personality, and that he should pursue a career in radio sales. Limbaugh returned to Cape Girardeau after rejecting his only job, a position in Neenah, Wisconsin, at the time. He became a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers during this time.

Limbaugh conducted a show at Top 40 station KUDL in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1975. He soon became the host of a public affairs talk show that aired on weekend mornings, allowing him to design his style and present more controversial topics. He was released from the station in 1977, but he stayed in Kansas City to begin an evening show at KFIX. The stint was short-lived, but management differences led to his dismissal weeks later. By this time, Limbaugh had become dissatisfied with radio and felt under pressure to pursue a different career. "A modest failure [...] as a deejay," he said. He began working part-time in group sales for the Kansas City Royals baseball team in 1979 and then moved to a full-time position as director of group sales and special events. He served at the Royals Stadium. There, he developed a friendship with then-Royals third baseman and future Hall of Famer George Brett. The two guys were all close friends. Limbaugh said that business trips to Europe and Asia during this period encouraged his pessimistic views, because those geographical areas had lower living conditions than those in the United States.

Limbaugh returned to radio at KMBZ (AM) in Kansas City in November 1983. He decided to ditch his on-air moniker and air under his real name. He was fired from the station but weeks later he landed a job with KFBK in Sacramento, California, replacing Morton Downey Jr. On October 14, 1984, the show was first broadcast. Limbaugh began to speak out in 1985 as he mocked the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament, which he characterized as "inherently anti-American," and was also published in a sympathetic and sympathetic media. The FCC's repeal of the fairness rule, which had mandated that stations air free air time for responses to any controversial viewpoints that were broadcast, meant that stations could air editorial commentary without having to present opposing views. "Ronald Reagan tore down this wall [the fairness doctrine] in 1987, [the fairness doctrine] was born in Berlin," Daniel Henninger wrote in a Wall Street Journal editorial, "and Rush Limbaugh became the first man to claim independence from the East Germany of liberal media domination."

Ed McLaughlin, a former ABC Radio Network executive, offered Limbaugh the nationally syndicated 12pm-2 p.m. slot at ABC Radio Network to replace Owen Spann in 1988. Since many local radio stations of the day were reluctant to carry nationally syndicated programming during the daytime, he also secured Limbaugh a separate 10am-12pm show at WABC-AM in New York City to honor the promise of his work requiring him to leave KMBZ.

Limbaugh's new show at WABC-AM began on July 4, 1988, with the first episode focusing on the Iran Air Flight 655 shootdown the day before. He appeared just weeks after the Democratic National Convention and just weeks before the Republican National Convention. Limbaugh's radio station in New York City was the talk-formatted WABC (AM), and this remained his flagship station for many years, even after Limbaugh's move to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he broadcast his show. Limbaugh's show was sold to WOR (AM), WABC's cross-town rival. (AM) is the final New York outlet for the Limbaugh family.

Limbaugh had been on his Rush to Excellence Tour, a series of personal appearances in cities around the country, by 1990. He was expected to make around $360,000 per year alone for the 45 shows.

In December 1990, journalist Lewis Grossberger said in The New York Times that Limbaugh had "more listeners than any other talk show host" and that Limbaugh's style was "bouncing between earnest lecturer and political vaindevillian." Limbaugh's rising fame coincided with the Gulf War, his support for the war effort, and his continued mockery of peace campaigners. The service was eventually distributed on over 650 radio stations around the country, with larger audiences.

Limbaugh had established himself as a leading political commentator by the 1992 United States presidential election. Limbaugh expressed a preference for Pat Buchanan over incumbent George W. Bush, which Buchanan attributed to his early success in the primaries. Bush's campaign went on to court Limbaugh, culminating in an invitation to stay overnight in the White House's Lincoln Bedroom. During the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, Limbaugh was given a seat at the president's box, and both President Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle appeared on Limbaugh's program.

Bill Clinton, a Democrat, was elected president of the United States in November 1992. Limbaugh mocked Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton's policies, as well as those of the Democratic Party. The freshman Republican class was awarded an honorary membership in their caucus in the Republican Revolution, when the party regained control of Congress in the 1994 midterm elections after several decades, recognizing that he was instrumental in the party's triumph.

Limbaugh's 1995 debut of a line of neckties under the brand No Boundaries Collection, which was conceived by his then-wife Marta with no themes, links to politics, or references to politics. Limbaugh expressed his dissatisfaction with the line's coverage, which he said underrated the ties' radicality, and that media descriptions were emblematic of their general inaccuracy. The brand was sold in nearly 1,500 retail stores by 1996, with more than $5,000,000 to the first year. The New York Times described the styles: "Much like their promulgator, Mr. Limbaugh's four dozen or so styles seem to be intended to evoke maximum sensory outrage." Like Rainbow Black, whose interweaving rainbow strands and blue raindrops spin around an Ionic column, atop which a cranberry-red pomegranate tree sprouts from an urn. Or Triangle Red, with colliding stacks of black-and-yellow triangles and disjointed horizontal black stripes on a background of speckled salmon." Limbaugh rented the email list from the No Boundaries website to Rudy Giuliani's senate campaign in 2000. Following his marriage to Marta, the company was no longer being sold by TieGal, Inc. for $29 each.

In the 2000s, Limbaugh had publicized personal difficulties. Despite continuing his appearance, he admitted that he had been almost deaf in late 2001, but he maintained his show. With the assistance of a cochlear implant in 2001, he was able to regained a majority of his hearing.

His comment about McNabb was:

Peter King, a sportswriter, characterized the comment as "boneheaded." "Many football fans and analysts" shared Limbaugh's opinion, and "it is... absurd to say that the sports media hasn't overrated Donovan McNabb because he's black," the sports analyst said.

Limbaugh, a former addict to painkillers, was addicted to pain medications and sought medical attention in 2003. On a warrant issued by the Palm Beach County state attorney's office in April, Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities and was arrested "on a single charge of prescription fraud" on a single charge. His name was eventually erased.

Cumulus Media, some of Limbaugh's stations, including New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Detroit, seemed to be considering dropping his program when its deal with Limbaugh came to an end in 2013, citing listener reactions to controversial Limbaugh's controversial Limbaugh's controversial commentary. The reports were overblown, according to Limbaugh himself, who said that it was a matter of normal dollars-and-cents discussions between Cumulus and his network syndication partner, Premiere Networks, a unit of Clear Channel Communications. The parties eventually signed a new deal, with Limbaugh's show moving from Cumulus-owned WABC to the latter's cross-town rival, the Clear Channel-owned WOR, starting January 1, 2014, but it was still on the Cumulus-owned stations.

Limbaugh called the GameStop short squeeze "the most interesting thing" to happen in a long time in January 2021, adding that "the elites are bent out of shape" because a group of average, ordinary customers have figured out how to become billionaires.

Both AM and FM radio stations in Limbaugh aired for three hours each weekday, beginning at noon Eastern Time each weekday. The show was also broadcast nationally on the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Radio broadcasting in the 1970s migrated from AM to FM due to the ability to broadcast music in stereo with greater fidelity (AM stations in the United States did not have the opportunity to broadcast in stereo sound until August 2, 1982). On the AM radio bandwagon, Limbaugh's show was the first nationally syndicated in August 1988. Limbaugh's fame paved the way for other conservative talk radio shows to become mainstream on AM radio. The show attracted such devoted following in the 1990s that even some FM stations picked it up. Around half of Limbaugh's affiliate stations were on the FM dial as of January 2019.

Limbaugh introduced his monologues on a variety of topics by using props, songs, and photographs. On his radio show, Clarence "Frogman" Henry's "Ain't Got No Home" was often preceded by information about homeless people.

WBAL in Baltimore, the first major market radio station in the country to eliminate Limbaugh's nationally syndicated radio service in March 2006. He was voted No. 1 by TALKERS Magazine in 2007. In its "Heavy Hundred" series, the most popular talk show hosts host.

Limbaugh frequently spoke about the EIB (Excellence in Broadcasting) network, which was established in 1990. His show was co-owned and first syndicated by Edward F. McLaughlin, the former president of ABC, who founded EFM Media in 1988, with Limbaugh's show as his first product in the beginning. McLaughlin sold EFM to Jacor Communications in 1997, which was later purchased by Clear Channel Communications. Limbaugh was the majority of the program, which is syndicated by the Premiere Radio Networks.

Limbaugh had an eight-year contract in U.S. News & World Report, earning 321.25 million a year. Limbaugh earned $33 million in 2007. According to a Zogby International poll conducted in November 2008, Limbaugh was the country's most trusted news celebrity, earning 12.5 percent of poll responses.

Limbaugh's first-year with Clear Channel Communications in 2008 made him the highest-paid broadcaster on terrestrial radio. Limbaugh's four-year deal was extended on August 2, 2016. Premiere Radio Networks and iHeartMedia reported at the unveiling of the extension, that his show saw 18% rise in adults 25-54, 27 percent with 25-54 women, and a 20% increase in ad sales by 20% year over year.

Limbaugh was the world's second (behind Howard Stern) highest-paid radio host in 2018, earning $84.5 million. Limbaugh resigned on January 5, 2020, the first time he was employed. Despite media reports that it was "a long-term" renewal (with no length given), Donald Trump said it was a four-year contract.

Ken Matthews, a regular guest, was also selected for the "Heavy Hundred" magazine by TALKERS Magazine.

Premiere Networks has announced that Clay Travis and Buck Sexton will take over hundreds of markets in hundreds of markets on June 21, 2021.

Roger Ailes produced Limbaugh's syndicated half-hour television show from 1992 to 1996. The show addressed several of the issues on his radio show and was taped in front of an audience. It was the third best rated late-night television show after Nightline and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on September 12, 1992. Limbaugh said he loved doing his radio show but not a television show.

Limbaugh's first television hosting experience came on March 30, 1990, as a guest host on Pat Sajak's CBS late-night talk show The Pat Sajak Show. Limbaugh was repeatedly mocked by ACT UP activists in the audience, but the entire studio audience was cleared. Sajak said the incident was "legendary around CBS" in 2001.

Limbaugh appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 17, 1993. Limbaugh appeared (as himself) on a 1994 episode of Hearts Afire. In 1995 Billy Crystal's Forget Paris film Forget It and in 1998 on an episode of The Drew Carey Show, he appeared in Forget Paris and In 1998, he appeared on the Billy Crystal Film Forget Paris.

In 2007, Limbaugh appeared on Fox News Channel's short-lived The 1/2 Hour News Hour in a series of parodies portraying him as the future President of the United States. Ann Coulter, a conservative pundit, was his vice president in the parodies. Lando Calrissian's administrative position on Cloud City came as a result of affirmative activity. He appeared in Family Guy's "Blue Harvest," a parody of Star Wars in which Limbaugh can be heard on the radio, claiming that the "liberal galactic media" were lying about climate change on the planet Hoth. In the 2010 episode "Excellence in Broadcasting," and 2011's "Episode VI: It's a Trap!" his later appearances on Family Guy included him. "This is a parody of Return of the Jedi."

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