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Whatley originally became well known after becoming a [[radio producer|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''.
Whatley originally became well known after becoming a [[radio producer|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 ==

Whatley graduated from [[Pinellas Park High School]] in [[Pinellas Park, Florida]] in 1982, and received a publication award from the [[International Thespian Society]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Sharon |last=Kirby |author=Sharon Kirby |date=April 24, 2000|title=Students honored for community, school work |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RPQNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6656,925850&dq=todd+hillier|publisher= St. Petersburg Times|page=3 |date=June 24, 1982 |accessdate=2008-10-18}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sbindependent.org/node/764 | title=Talk Radio Favorite Suffers Heart Attack | accessdate=2008-10-14}}</ref> 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.


==Radio career==
==Radio career==
Whatley originally became well known after becoming a [[radio producer|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<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelbio.xmc?ch=202 | publisher=XM Radio |title=In the Studio at The Virus Fez Marie Whatley On-Air Personality | accessdate=2008-10-21}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/google/article_brief/511308 |date=April 24, 2000 |title=Local Media |last=Bachman | first=Katy | author=Katy Bachman |publisher=Mediaweek.com | accessdate=2008-10-14}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


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 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.<ref>"[http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-andy-griffith-statue-reward-100226,0,175998.story Andy Griffith Statue Mostly Cleaned; Radio Host Offers Reward]" February 26, 2010 FOX8.com</ref>


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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/08/Artsandentertainment/WQYK_drops_sports_tal.shtml | publisher=St. Pepetrsburg Times |author=Eric Deggans | last=Deggans | first=Eric | date=July 8, 2004 | title=WQYK drops sports talk format | accessdate=2008-10-14}}</ref>
⚫
==Personal Life==


''The Ron and Fez Show'' moved to [[XM Satellite Radio]] on September 12, 2005 after leaving WJFK 106.7 FM in [[Washington D.C]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/30/AR2005073001213.html|title=Names & Faces |accessdate=2008-10-14 | work=The Washington Post | date=July 31, 2005}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=779 | title=Talk Radio Personalities Ron and Fez to Joint XM Satellite Radio | accessdate=2008-10-14 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080515104725/http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=779 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-05-15}}</ref>
On February 24. 2012, Whatley made an official on-air announcement, coming out as homosexual to the show's audience.

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.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212006/tv/starr_report_tv_michael_starr.htm | title=Starr Report | accessdate=2008-10-14}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>

On November 4, 2008 Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley hosted ''Presidential Thunderdome '08'', a live radio show covering the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 presidential elections]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/11/04/follow-election-coverage-on-satellite-radio-with-ron-and-fez/|title=Follow election coverage on satellite radio with Ron and Fez|date=November 4, 2008|author=Nicholas Deleon|accessdate=2008-11-06}}</ref>

⚫
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.<ref>"[http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-andy-griffith-statue-reward-100226,0,175998.story Andy Griffith Statue Mostly Cleaned; Radio Host Offers Reward]" February 26, 2010 FOX8.com</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 17:42, 24 February 2012

Fez Marie Whatley
Fez Whatley during the 2006 Opie and Anthony Homeless Shopping Spree
BornMarch 31, 1964
Career
ShowRon and Fez
Station(s)the ViRUS (XM channel 105 and Sirius channel 206)
Time slot11:00 AM - 3:00 PM ET
Monday - Friday
Styleshock jock
Country United States
 Canada

Fez Marie Whatley (born Todd Hillier March 31, 1964), 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.

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]

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.[2] 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.

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[3] 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.[4]

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.[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]

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.[8]

On November 4, 2008 Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley hosted Presidential Thunderdome '08, a live radio show covering the 2008 presidential elections.[9]

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.[10]

References

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ "Talk Radio Favorite Suffers Heart Attack". Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  3. ^ "In the Studio at The Virus Fez Marie Whatley On-Air Personality". XM Radio. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  4. ^ Bachman, Katy (April 24, 2000). "Local Media". Mediaweek.com. Retrieved 2008-10-14. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help) [dead link]
  5. ^ Deggans, Eric (July 8, 2004). "WQYK drops sports talk format". St. Pepetrsburg Times. Retrieved 2008-10-14. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  6. ^ "Names & Faces". The Washington Post. July 31, 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  7. ^ "Talk Radio Personalities Ron and Fez to Joint XM Satellite Radio". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  8. ^ "Starr Report". Retrieved 2008-10-14. [dead link]
  9. ^ Nicholas Deleon (November 4, 2008). "Follow election coverage on satellite radio with Ron and Fez". Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  10. ^ "Andy Griffith Statue Mostly Cleaned; Radio Host Offers Reward" February 26, 2010 FOX8.com

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