Professional career Rush Limbaugh

1 professional career

1.1 1970s
1.2 1980s
1.3 1990s
1.4 2000s
1.5 2010s
1.6 rush limbaugh show
1.7 television show
1.8 other media appearances

professional career
1970s

after dropping out of college, limbaugh moved mckeesport, pennsylvania. in 1972, became top 40 music disc jockey on wixz, small radio station reached of pittsburgh area. started afternoon show , later did mornings, broadcasting under name jeff christie. limbaugh moved pittsburgh station kqv in 1973 evening disc jockey, succeeding jim quinn. fired in late 1974, when station sold taft broadcasting. limbaugh reportedly told management never make on-air talent, , should consider going sales. unable find job in local radio, limbaugh moved home cape girardeau. became lifelong fan of pittsburgh steelers time in region.

for rest of decade limbaugh took jobs @ several radio stations, working in music radio, before settling in kansas city. in 1979, left radio , accepted position director of promotions kansas city royals baseball team. there developed close friendship then-royals star third baseman , future hall of famer george brett; 2 remain close friends.

1980s

in 1984, limbaugh returned radio talk show host @ kfbk in sacramento, replaced morton downey, jr. repeal of fairness doctrine—which had required stations provide free air time responses controversial opinions broadcast—by fcc in 1987 meant stations broadcast editorial commentary without having present opposing views. daniel henninger wrote, in wall street journal editorial, ronald reagan tore down wall (the fairness doctrine) in 1987 ... , rush limbaugh first man proclaim himself liberated east germany of liberal media domination.

on august 1, 1988, after achieving success in sacramento , drawing attention of former abc radio president edward mclaughlin, limbaugh moved new york city , began national radio show. debuted weeks after democratic national convention, , weeks before republican national convention. limbaugh s radio home in new york city talk-formatted wabc (am), , remained flagship station many years, after limbaugh moved west palm beach, fla., continues broadcast show. limbaugh s show moved on jan. 1, 2014 wabc s cross-town rival wor (am), current new york outlet.

1990s

in december 1990, journalist lewis grossberger wrote in new york times limbaugh had more listeners other talk show host , described limbaugh s style bouncing between earnest lecturer , political vaudevillian. limbaugh s rising popularity coincided persian gulf war, , support war effort , relentless ridicule of peace activists. program gained more popularity , moved stations larger audiences, being broadcast on over 650 radio stations nationwide.

in 1992, democrat bill clinton elected president of united states. limbaugh satirized policies of clinton , first lady hillary clinton, of democratic party. when republican party won control of congress in 1994 midterm elections, freshman republican class awarded limbaugh honorary membership in caucus. event confirmed him influential figure on national political scene.

2000s

limbaugh had publicized personal difficulties in 2000s. in late 2001, acknowledged had gone deaf, although continued show. able regain of hearing of cochlear implant in 2001.

in 2003, limbaugh had brief stint pro football commentator espn. resigned few weeks 2003 nfl season after making comments press coverage quarterback donovan mcnabb caused controversy , accusations of racism on part of limbaugh. comment mcnabb was: don t think s been get-go. think ve had here little social concern in nfl. think media has been desirous black quarterback well. re interested in black coaches , black quarterbacks doing well. think there s little hope invested in mcnabb , got lot of credit performance of team didn t deserve. defense carried team. sportswriter construed comment racist against himself , other sportswriters. sports analyst wrote limbaugh s viewpoint shared many football fans , analysts , ... absurd sports media haven t overrated donovan mcnabb because s black.

in 2003, limbaugh stated addicted pain medication, , sought treatment. in april 2006, limbaugh turned himself in authorities, on warrant issued state attorney s office, , arrested on single charge of prescription fraud. record later expunged.

2010s

in 2013, news reports indicated cumulus media, of stations carried limbaugh s program in major markets, including new york, chicago, dallas, washington d.c. , detroit, considering dropping show when contract limbaugh expired @ end of year, reportedly because company believed advertising revenues had been hurt listener reaction controversial limbaugh comments. limbaugh himself said reports overblown , matter of routine dollars-and-cents negotiations between cumulus , network syndication partner, premiere networks, unit of clear channel communications. ultimately, parties reached agreement on new contract, limbaugh s show moving long-time flagship outlet in new york, cumulus-owned wabc, latter s cross-town rival, clear channel-owned wor, starting jan. 1, 2014, remaining on cumulus-owned stations being carried on in other markets.

the rush limbaugh show

limbaugh s radio show airs 3 hours each weekday beginning @ noon eastern standard time on both , fm radio. program broadcast worldwide on armed forces radio network.

radio broadcasting shifted fm in late 1970s because of opportunity broadcast music in stereo better fidelity. limbaugh s show first nationally syndicated in august 1988, in later stage of s decline. limbaugh s popularity paved way other conservative talk radio programming become commonplace on radio. show became popular in 1990s, fm stations picked up. in march 2006, wbal in baltimore became first major market radio station in country drop limbaugh s nationally syndicated radio program. in 2007, talkers magazine again named him no. 1 in heavy hundred important talk show hosts.

limbaugh mentions eib (excellence in broadcasting) network, trademarked in 1990. in beginning, show co-owned , first syndicated edward f. mclaughlin, former president of abc, founded efm media in 1988, limbaugh s show first product. in 1997, mclaughlin sold efm jacor communications, bought clear channel communications. today, limbaugh owns majority of show, syndicated premiere radio networks.

according 2001 article in u.s. news & world report, limbaugh had eight-year contract, @ rate of $31.25 million year. in 2007, limbaugh earned $33 million. november 2008 poll zogby international found rush limbaugh trusted news personality in nation, garnering 12.5 percent of poll responses.

limbaugh signed $400 million, eight-year contract in 2008 clear channel communications making him highest paid broadcaster on terrestrial radio. on august 2, 2016, limbaugh signed four-year extension of 2008 contract. @ announcement of extension, premiere radio networks , iheartmedia announced show experienced audience growth 18% growth in adults 25–54, 27% growth 25–54 women, , ad revenue growth of 20% year on year.

television show

limbaugh had syndicated half-hour television show 1992 through 1996, produced roger ailes. show discussed many of topics on radio show, , taped in front of audience. rush limbaugh says loves doing radio show, not tv show.

other media appearances

limbaugh s first television hosting experience came march 30, 1990, guest host on pat sajak s cbs late-night talk show, pat sajak show. act activists in audience heckled limbaugh repeatedly; entire studio audience cleared. in 2001, sajak said incident legendary around cbs .

on december 17, 1993, limbaugh appeared on late show david letterman. limbaugh guest-starred (as himself) on 1994 episode of hearts afire. appeared in 1995 billy crystal film forget paris, , in 1998 on episode of drew carey show.

in 2007, limbaugh made cameo appearances on fox news channel s short-lived 1/2 hour news hour in series of parodies portraying him future president of united states. in parodies, vice president fellow conservative pundit ann coulter. year, made cameo in family guy episode blue harvest, parody of star wars in limbaugh can heard on radio claiming liberal galactic media lying climate change on planet hoth, , lando calrissian s administrative position on cloud city result of affirmative action. more recent family guy appearances have happened in 2010 episode excellence in broadcasting, , 2011 s episode vi: s trap!, parody of return of jedi.