77WABC Remembers Bernie McGuirk

77WABC was in the unenviable task of remembering Bernie McGuirk Thursday morning after the morning host passed away at the age of 64 after a battle with prostate cancer.

Curtis Sliwa and Frank Morano anchored the coverage during the usual Bernie & Sid In The Morning timeslot. They welcomed a bevy of guests to discuss the life and legacy of McGuirk.

Station owner John Catsimatidis told the crew he was told Wednesday evening that McGuirk was likely to pass. “I knew something was wrong because every Sunday I would go to church and light a candle for Bernie. And last Sunday, I lit a candle and I would send it to Bernie by texting it to him. And for the first time, I did not get an answer back. And I gulp in my stomach. There’s no other way to say it. You guys worked with Bernie for a long, long time, and you know how much more than I knew him. He was a great guy, he said it the way it was, and he people respected him because he would say it the way it was — the way he felt — without mincing any words. He has been missed for the last few months, and will be missed.”

Bill O’Reilly joined the program to discuss the legacy of McGuirk.

“It’s my honor to talk about McGuirk,” he said. “I always called him by his last name because that’s what Irish guys in New York do,” O’Reilly said before noting he and McGuirk have lived similar lives from their Irish home upbringing in the Bronx to news radio and television stardom.

“I put him on television with (Greg) Gutfeld for Gutfeld & McGuirk, as McGurik would demand, McGuirk & Gutfeld. And there were two together and me. And we would just kick it around. A fabulous segment, and he took that edge and brought it to WABC. When we think about Bernard McGuirk’s life, the capstone of his life was the enormous success he had with Rosenberg. I’ve said this before — and I don’t blow smoke with anybody, you guys at WABC know that — what Bernie and Sid have done in the morning is unprecedented. It’s never happened, not only in New York but anywhere in the country. You take a station that is basically over in the marketplace. Number 22 or 23. (John) Catsimatidis buys it, Lopez is there, they reconfigure the talent and now in the morning it’s number one.”

Sid Rosenberg spoke about the relationship he had with his co-host and friend.

“It’s a tough morning,” a somber Rosenberg said before thanking Sliwa and Morano for hosting the show, as well as those who had called in to remember McGuirk. “I spoke to Bernard last Wednesday — and I even made the comparison to Jim Caan’s character in Brian’s Song — his voice was so weak. We had a nice conversation. He thanked me for what I did at the Gala, and the last thing he said was ‘I love you’ and I said ‘I love you, too’. This is an immense loss. We knew this day was coming, but when it comes it’s not easy. Today’s not about me, but a lot of people turned their backs on me, but he never did. He never did. I’m just very sad today. Probably shouldn’t even call in, but I feel like I need to,” Rosenberg said as he fought back tears. “I’m gonna miss him.”

BNM Staff