Wake Up With Whoopi
Encyclopedia
Wake Up With Whoopi was a morning radio show that aired on various stations in the United States from July 31, 2006 until March 28, 2008. Whoopi Goldberg
was the host of the program. The show was syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks
out of New York City
.
The program was roughly one-third talk and two-thirds music (excluding commercials); the music was programmed by the individual stations in most cases. Discussion largely centered around water cooler
topics as well as interviews with various guests, mostly from the entertainment industry.
, launching into syndication two weeks later.
Wake Up With Whoopi aired from 5am - 9am local time (live on the East Coast) in several markets. At its peak, the program was heard on four of the top six major markets (New York's WKTU
, Chicago's WLIT
, San Francisco's KKSF
and Philadelphia's WISX
) and approximately twenty affiliates overall. However, affiliates began dropping the program in the summer of 2007. Flagship station WKTU dropped the program in November 2007; the show moved its production from the WKTU studios to sister station WWPR-FM
, although that station did not carry the program.
The program was produced by longtime WKTU morning show producer Michael Opelka until he left the show and the company, ending nearly 10 years of his affiliation with the station. Opelka left to join Opie and Anthony
; he was replaced by a team of Matt Bosso, Lisa Jackson, and Glenn Baker. Cubby Bryant
, who had been Goldberg's co-host, left the show in January 2008, staying on WKTU's morning drive.
The show's cancellation had been anticipated for months, and the last live broadcast was March 27, 2008. Wake Up With Whoopis final broadcast on March 28, 2008 was a taped performance from the previous year, with a final sign-off by Whoopi, explaining her thoughts on the show's cancellation. When the show was cancelled, only Denver, Las Vegas, Raleigh, Utica
and Muskegon
were carrying the show; all but one of the stations are owned by Clear Channel Communications
(Utica's WUMX was owned by Clear Channel but the company sold WUMX to Galaxy Communications
, who kept the show until its cancellation).
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
was the host of the program. The show was syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
out of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The program was roughly one-third talk and two-thirds music (excluding commercials); the music was programmed by the individual stations in most cases. Discussion largely centered around water cooler
Water cooler
A water cooler or water dispenser is a device that cools and dispenses water. They are generally broken up in two categories: bottleless and bottled water coolers...
topics as well as interviews with various guests, mostly from the entertainment industry.
History
The program signed on on July 31st, 2006 on flagship station WKTUWKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
, launching into syndication two weeks later.
Wake Up With Whoopi aired from 5am - 9am local time (live on the East Coast) in several markets. At its peak, the program was heard on four of the top six major markets (New York's WKTU
WKTU
WKTU is a radio station based in New York City that plays an upbeat, gold-based CHR format. The station's broadcast transmitter is located on the top of the Empire State Building and its city of license is Lake Success, New York, with offices formerly in the "Newport" section of Jersey City, New...
, Chicago's WLIT
WLIT
WLIT-FM is a radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of adult contemporary music. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.In February 2006, WLIT began broadcasting in HD Radio...
, San Francisco's KKSF
KKSF
KKSF, known as "Oldies 103.7", is a classic hits radio station in San Francisco, California. The station is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
and Philadelphia's WISX
WISX
WISX is a Hot adult contemporary radio station licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are owned by Clear Channel Communications.-Beautiful Music Era: WQAL/WWSH:...
) and approximately twenty affiliates overall. However, affiliates began dropping the program in the summer of 2007. Flagship station WKTU dropped the program in November 2007; the show moved its production from the WKTU studios to sister station WWPR-FM
WWPR-FM
WWPR-FM, also known as "Power 105.1", is an urban contemporary radio station that features hip hop and R&B licensed to New York City that serves the Greater New York area....
, although that station did not carry the program.
The program was produced by longtime WKTU morning show producer Michael Opelka until he left the show and the company, ending nearly 10 years of his affiliation with the station. Opelka left to join Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
; he was replaced by a team of Matt Bosso, Lisa Jackson, and Glenn Baker. Cubby Bryant
Cubby Bryant
Paul "Cubby" Bryant is a radio personality, currently working as the morning host at WKTU in New York City 106.7 The Beat Of Detroit WDTW and as of Monday, September 12th, 2011 he can be heard weekday afternoons on Movin' 107.7 WMOV-FM in Norfolk/ Virginia Beach, VA...
, who had been Goldberg's co-host, left the show in January 2008, staying on WKTU's morning drive.
The show's cancellation had been anticipated for months, and the last live broadcast was March 27, 2008. Wake Up With Whoopis final broadcast on March 28, 2008 was a taped performance from the previous year, with a final sign-off by Whoopi, explaining her thoughts on the show's cancellation. When the show was cancelled, only Denver, Las Vegas, Raleigh, Utica
WUMX
WUMX is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Rome, New York, USA, the station serves the Utica, Rome New York area. The station is currently owned by Galaxy Utica Licensee LLC, the Utica division of Galaxy Communications...
and Muskegon
WMUS
This article is about the current WOOD-FM in Muskegon, Michigan. For the station that bore the WOOD-FM call letters from 1962 to 2010, see WSRW-FM....
were carrying the show; all but one of the stations are owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
(Utica's WUMX was owned by Clear Channel but the company sold WUMX to Galaxy Communications
Galaxy Communications
Galaxy Communications is a radio broadcasting company with radio stations entirely in the Central New York area.In 1989, the first Galaxy station, WKLL was launched by the current CEO, Ed Levine, and his business partner, Bob Raide. In the 1990s, Galaxy launched additional stations in Syracuse and...
, who kept the show until its cancellation).