Legendary Chicago-based DJ Lin Brehmer of WXRT passed away earlier this year after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer, something that was unbeknownst to Gregg Giannotti at WFAN. Giannotti and co-host Boomer Esiason are up for the Marconi Award for “Major Market Personality of the Year,” but it seems they did not realize that they would be going up against Brehmer in the category. Because of Brehmer’s passing, Giannotti expressed on the air that he does not believe the show stands much of a chance to win the prestigious industry honor.
“Unfortunately, I found out [that] one of the people we’re going up against has passed away,” Giannotti said Monday morning on WFAN, “so chances are, I would think they’re going to go with the posthumous award to that person.”
Show producer Al Dukes agreed with the notion, saying that the program should send friend of the show Big Zoo to accept the award just in case the duo wins the award. Update anchor Jerry Recco, filling in for Esiason as host, demurred and thought that just because the nominee is deceased does not mean that they are guaranteed to win the award.
“You could give him a lifetime achievement award,” postulated Recco. “You could do that, which would be a very nice thing to do that night.”
Giannotti remembered Heath Ledger winning an Oscar in the “Best Supporting Actor” category for his role in the movie, The Dark Knight, after passing away because of a drug overdose. Ledger’s family took to the stage and accepted the award on his behalf, providing an emotional moment for everyone in the room and watching from afar. Although the show is yearning to win the award, Giannotti would understand if it went to Brehmer.
“Wouldn’t you feel the same way if you were voting on this; you were in the room determining who was going to win that the person who had passed away you’d probably have to give the award to?,” Giannotti asked. “Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, I think that there is a very good possibility of that,” Recco said.
