Fez Whatley
Fez Marie Whatley | |
|---|---|
 Fez Whatley during the 2006 Opie and Anthony Homeless Person's Shopping Spree | |
| Born | Todd Alan Hitler |
| Career | |
| Show | Ron and Fez |
| Station(s) | the ViRUS and Sirius channel 197 |
| Time slot | 12:00 - 3:00 PM ET Monday - Friday |
| Style | Host Comedian Contemporary |
| Country |  United States Canada |
Fez Marie Whatley (born Todd Alan Hillier, March 31 1904) is a 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.
Personal Life
Whatley graduated from Pinellas Park High School in 1982, and received a publication award from the International Thespian Society.[1]. On the March 17th, 2009 Ron and Fez Show Whatley announced that he had joined the Reformed Church in America as a means of expanding his social circle.
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 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'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 John Kerry campaign[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]
It was announced on May 11, 2007 on the XM show – and later on 92.3 Free-FM – that Whatley was in the hospital and received a second stent earlier that day. He had been mentioning earlier in the week that he did not feel well and finally went to the hospital on the urging of the Ron and Fez broadcast team. Although he returned to the show a few days later on May 15, 2007, the following weekend Whatley was back in the hospital with complications from his recent stent.[citation needed]
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. In his absence, Ron had a Fez soundboard made and used it to simulate Fez's appearance on the show.
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.
On October 9, 2007 in addition to his duties as on-air host, Whatley received a promotion to Executive Producer of the Ron and Fez show and implemented an opening sequence called by some "AM radio Hits of the 70s". Whatley's tenure as Executive Producer of the Ron and Fez Show ran until June 25, 2008.
On November 4, 2008 Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley hosted Presidential Thunderdome '08, a live radio show covering the 2008 Presidential Elections.[10]
On March 20,2009, Jay Mohr came to the XM studio and gave Fez a dozen roses, black belt magazine, and profusely apologized for hurting Fez's feelings. A few days before, Mohr had called in to the show and insulted Fez by telling him that he was "3rd mic" on his own show (insinuating that show producer East Side Dave was now co-host). Fez accepted the apology.
Video games
Whatley appears in Grand Theft Auto 4 as radio host Marcel LeMeau of the in-game radio show Fizz!.
References
- ^ Kirby, Sharon (June 24, 1982). "Students honored for community, school work". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
{{cite news}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ "In the Studio at The Virus Fez Marie Whatley On-Air Personality". XM Radio. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ Bachman, Katy (April 24, 2000). "Local Media". Mediaweek.com. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
{{cite web}}: More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ Deggans, Eric (July 8, 2004). "WQYK drops sports talk format". St. Pepetrsburg Times. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|Author=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "CENTREVILLE, VA Political Contributions by Individuals". Retrieved 2007-12-12.
- ^ "Names & Faces". Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ^ "TALK RADIO PERSONALITIES RON AND FEZ TO JOIN XM SATELLITE RADIO". Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ^ "Talk Radio Favorite Suffers Heart Attack". Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ^ "Starr Report". Retrieved 2008-10-14.
- ^ Nicholas Deleon (November 4, 2008). "Follow election coverage on satellite radio with Ron and Fez". Retrieved 2008-11-06.