XM Satellite Radio (2005-present)
On August 2, 2005, three days after Ron and Fez signed off from WJFK-FM, the official announcement was made that they would go to XM Satellite Radio beginning September 12. On August 9, and then again one month later on September 8 and 9, Ron and Fez went on The Opie and Anthony Show to provide behind-the-scenes stories about their time at WNEW-FM and the years since they last worked together.. On September 9, the four hosts of both shows (as well as O&A co-host Jim Norton) met hundreds of fans at a preshow kickoff party at B.B. King's Blues Cafe in Times Square which doubled as a welcome back party to New York City for Ron and Fez.
On November 9, 2005, Fez suffered a mild heart attack, unbeknownst to him. He hosted the show the next day before his doctor informed him of the heart attack. An angioplasty was performed and he was diagnosed with diabetes. Fez returned to the show on November 28.
Following an interview on May 9, 2007 with author Elmore Leonard, Fez left the studio during the show for the emergency room. Fez subsequently had a second stent inserted May 11, 2007.
Until early 2010, the show openers were created by Mooch Cassidy & Chris Stanley. The openings mixed drops from movies and pop culture into a song followed by "North American Scum" by LCD Soundsystem. For a brief period in early 2010, the show opened with a brief introduction that cuts to Ron in the studio speaking in medias res. By the mid-summer of 2010, the LCD Soundsystem intro to the program returned with the Cassidy/Hicks-style intros used from time to time.
On January 16, 2009, Executive Producer Earl Douglas announced his resignation live on the air and announced in May 2009 his plans to write a book on black artists in rock. On May 18, 2009 the show format was extended from three hours (Noon-3pm EST) to four hours (11am-3pm EST).
In June 2010, East Side Dave McDonald departed from the show. He was the one of the show's longest running producers. East Side was replaced by Chris Stanley who was promoted to Executive Producer.
On February 24, 2012, Fez came out as gay.
Read more about this topic: Ron And Fez
Famous quotes containing the words satellite and/or radio:
“Books are the best things, well used; abused, among the worst. What is the right use? What is the one end, which all means go to effect? They are for nothing but to inspire. I had better never see a book, than to be warped by its attraction clean out of my own orbit, and made a satellite instead of a system.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“A liberal is a socialist with a wife and two children.”
—Anonymous. BBC Radio 4 (April 8, 1990)