Fez Whatley

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Fez Marie Whatley/Virgin

HomelessFezWhatley.jpg
Fez Whatley during the 2006 Opie and Anthony Homeless Shopping Spree
Birth name Todd Alan Hillier
Born February 17, 1964
Show Ron and Fez
Station(s) the ViRUS (XM channel 202 and Sirius channel 197)
Time slot 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM ET
Monday - Friday
Style shock jock
Country  United States
 Canada

Todd Alan Hillier (born February 17, 1964), better known by the name Fez Marie Whatley, is an American talk radio host and comedian who co-hosts The Ron and Fez Show. From October 9, 2007 to June 27, 2008, Whatley also served as the Executive Producer. Whatley originally became well known after becoming a producer and contributor for The Ron and Ron Show in Florida. After the show disbanded, Whatley teamed up with Ron Bennington to create The Ron and Fez Show, then entitled Ron and Fez Dot Com.

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Whatley graduated from Pinellas Park High School in Pinellas Park, Florida in 1982, and received a publication award from the International Thespian Society.[1]

[edit] Radio career

Whatley originally became well known after becoming a producer and contributor for The Ron and Ron Show in Florida. After the show disbanded, Whatley who was formerly a sidekick and producer now teamed up with Ron Bennington as a co-host[2] to create The Ron and Fez Show, then entitled Ron and Fez Dot Com. which premiered on New York City radio station WNEW FM on April 17, 2000.[3]

On July 19, 2004 Whatley and his long time pal Ron Bennington returned to the airwaves and got the 1 PM to 3 PM slot on Tampa Bay, Florida's The Buzz WBAA-AM 1010 after the station adopted a new talk format, and abandoned its former sports talk format.[4]

Whatley was a long-time supporter of Republican candidates. However, campaign finance reports indicate that prior to the 2004 election, a "Todd Hillier" donated $250 to the campaign of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. [5]

The Ron and Fez Show moved to XM Satellite Radio on September 12, 2005 after leaving WJFK 106.7 FM in Washington D.C.[6] Eric Logan who at the time was the Executive Vice President of Programming for XM Satellite Radio said "It should come as no surprise that Ron and Fez are making the jump to XM where they will have the opportunity to create the kind of radio that has made them popular with their long-time fans and expand their fan base to millions of XM listeners," and "Ron and Fez are two of the funniest guys on the radio and XM's High Voltage is a perfect place for them to do what they do best."[7]

Whatley suffered a mild heart attack on November 9, 2005 which he did not recognize. He went on to host The Ron and Fez Show the next day before consulting a doctor where he was informed he had suffered a heart attack and was also diagnosed with diabetes.[8] An angioplasty was performed and Whatley returned to the show on November 28, 2005.

On December 20, 2006 The Ron and Fez Show premiered on 92.3 Free FM in New York City from 6 to 9 PM, while still holding on to their XM Satellite Radio show from Noon to 3 PM.[9]

On November 4, 2008 Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley hosted Presidential Thunderdome '08, a live radio show covering the 2008 presidential elections.[10]

In 2010, he became "Strong, Confident Fez Whatley"

[edit] Video games

Whatley appears in Grand Theft Auto 4 as radio host Marcel LeMeau of the in-game radio show Fizz!.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kirby, Sharon (June 24, 1982). "Students honored for community, school work". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RPQNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6656,925850&dq=todd+hillier. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 
  2. ^ "In the Studio at The Virus Fez Marie Whatley On-Air Personality". XM Radio. http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelbio.xmc?ch=202. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  3. ^ Bachman, Katy (April 24, 2000). "Local Media". Mediaweek.com. http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/google/article_brief/511308. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
  4. ^ Deggans, Eric (July 8, 2004). "WQYK drops sports talk format". St. Pepetrsburg Times. http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/08/Artsandentertainment/WQYK_drops_sports_tal.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
  5. ^ "Centreville, VA Political Contributions by Individuals". http://www.city-data.com/elec/elec-CENTREVILLE-VA.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 
  6. ^ "Names & Faces". http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/30/AR2005073001213.html. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
  7. ^ "Talk Radio Personalities Ron and Fez to Joint XM Satellite Radio". http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=779. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
  8. ^ "Talk Radio Favorite Suffers Heart Attack". http://www.sbindependent.org/node/764. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
  9. ^ "Starr Report". http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212006/tv/starr_report_tv_michael_starr.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-14. 
  10. ^ Nicholas Deleon (November 4, 2008). "Follow election coverage on satellite radio with Ron and Fez". http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/11/04/follow-election-coverage-on-satellite-radio-with-ron-and-fez/. Retrieved 2008-11-06. 
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fez_Whatley"