Fez Whatley
Encyclopedia
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.
in Pinellas Park, Florida
in 1982, and received a publication award from the International Thespian Society
.
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. An angioplasty
was performed and Whatley returned to the show on November 28, 2005. Approximately one year later, Fez left the show again due to chest pains, and needed a second stent put in.
On September 24, 2010 Fez was diagnosed as suffering a third heart attack while in the hospital for treatment for an unrelated medical issue.
He was released from the hospital on Monday, September 27 and returned to the show on Wednesday, September 29.
On February 24, 2011, Fez's father, Dick Hillier died in a NYC hospital. Ron Bennington was on-air the next day and in Fez's absence put on an impromptu radio memorial for Fez's father going to break playing Danny Boy
. Fez returned to the air on Monday, March 7, and offered a touching remembrance of his father.
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 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.
Whatley and Bennington continued on WNEW FM until the end of 2002, as well as being syndicated to several other FM markets around the United States, including WJFK
FM in Washington, DC. After they went off the air in New York City, as well as most of the other markets, they continued to broadcast from WJFK FM, relocating to DC.
On July 19, 2004 Whatley and his longtime pal Ron Bennington returned to the Florida airwaves, airing in 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.
The Ron and Fez Show moved to XM Satellite Radio
on September 12, 2005 after leaving WJFK 106.7 FM in Washington D.C. 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."
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.
On November 4, 2008 Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley hosted Presidential Thunderdome '08, a live radio show covering the 2008 presidential elections
.
On February 26. 2010, Whatley put up $1000 cash reward for the apprehension, conviction, and incarceration of the vandals who defaced the Mount Airy, North Carolina statue depicting Sheriff Andy Taylor and Opie Taylor of the iconic 1960s television program, "The Andy Griffith Show". Whatley is working closely with the Mount Airy Crime Stoppers Division as they monitor leads in the case.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
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
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
.
Whatley originally became well known after becoming a producer
Radio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
and contributor for The Ron and Ron Show in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. After the show disbanded, Whatley teamed up with Ron Bennington
Ron Bennington
Ron Bennington born January 9th,1959, is an American radio personality and comedian. He is the primary voice of The Ron and Fez Show, and a stand-up comic...
to create The Ron and Fez Show, then entitled Ron and Fez Dot Com.
Personal life
Whatley graduated from Pinellas Park High SchoolPinellas Park High School
Pinellas Park High School is a public secondary school in Pinellas Park, Florida, United States. It opened in the fall of 1976 and is part of the Pinellas County Schools system. The school mascot is the Patriot, and the school colors are red, white and blue. The school newspaper is called the...
in Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida. The population was 45,658 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 47,166 . The city was founded by Philadelphia publisher, F. A...
in 1982, and received a publication award from the International Thespian Society
International Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
.
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. An angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
was performed and Whatley returned to the show on November 28, 2005. Approximately one year later, Fez left the show again due to chest pains, and needed a second stent put in.
On September 24, 2010 Fez was diagnosed as suffering a third heart attack while in the hospital for treatment for an unrelated medical issue.
He was released from the hospital on Monday, September 27 and returned to the show on Wednesday, September 29.
On February 24, 2011, Fez's father, Dick Hillier died in a NYC hospital. Ron Bennington was on-air the next day and in Fez's absence put on an impromptu radio memorial for Fez's father going to break playing Danny Boy
Danny Boy
-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
. Fez returned to the air on Monday, March 7, and offered a touching remembrance of his father.
Radio career
Whatley originally became well known after becoming a producerRadio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
and contributor for The Ron and Ron Show in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. After the show disbanded, Whatley who was formerly a sidekick and producer now teamed up with Ron Bennington
Ron Bennington
Ron Bennington born January 9th,1959, is an American radio personality and comedian. He is the primary voice of The Ron and Fez Show, and a stand-up comic...
as a co-host to create The Ron and Fez Show, then entitled Ron and Fez Dot Com. which premiered on 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...
radio station WNEW FM on April 17, 2000.
Whatley and Bennington continued on WNEW FM until the end of 2002, as well as being syndicated to several other FM markets around the United States, including WJFK
WJFK
WJFK may refer to:* WJFK-FM, a radio station licensed to Manassas, Virginia, United States* WJZ , a radio station licensed to Baltimore, Maryland, United States, which used the WJFK call sign from October 1991 to November 2008...
FM in Washington, DC. After they went off the air in New York City, as well as most of the other markets, they continued to broadcast from WJFK FM, relocating to DC.
On July 19, 2004 Whatley and his longtime pal Ron Bennington returned to the Florida airwaves, airing in 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.
The Ron and Fez Show moved to XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
on September 12, 2005 after leaving WJFK 106.7 FM in Washington D.C. 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."
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.
On November 4, 2008 Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley hosted Presidential Thunderdome '08, a live radio show covering the 2008 presidential elections
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
On February 26. 2010, Whatley put up $1000 cash reward for the apprehension, conviction, and incarceration of the vandals who defaced the Mount Airy, North Carolina statue depicting Sheriff Andy Taylor and Opie Taylor of the iconic 1960s television program, "The Andy Griffith Show". Whatley is working closely with the Mount Airy Crime Stoppers Division as they monitor leads in the case.