Harris returns as McLean departs talkshow
(CNS): Hurley’s Entertainment has announced more changes to its weekday call-in radio show, Crosstalk. Austin Harris was arrested in March for assault following an incident at a house party, where he was alleged to have hit a female friend. Asa result he was suspended from his job but he is returning to the airwaves on Monday. The police have confirmed that Harris remains on police bail but Randy Merren, the owner of the station, said his host deserved a second chance. Meanwhile, Gilbert McLean, the other half of the breakfast show duo, has announced his intention to leave this Friday. Harris will therefore be returning to the studio with a new sidekick, two time UDP political candidate Jonathan Piercy.
“I’m confident that all the right steps are being taken to resolve the matter that sidelined Austin in March. Everyone deserves a second chance and I’m sure he will grow and learn from this experience,” said Merren, as he thanked Ellio Solomon for stepping in.
Solomon, who was a full time host on the show before he was elected to the LA in the 2009 General Election, kept Harris’ seat warm for him for a while. However, the former back-bench UDP member is not returning to his radio career but is going back to to his desk job at WestarTV as its government liaison person.
Harris will return Monday morning with Piercy, as his old partner has decided to quit but after four and a half years on the show, McLean was relatively cagey about his sudden decision to depart.
“My work here on Crosstalk has been special and satisfying. I will no doubt miss the daily banter and comments on current affairs. However, time moves on and now, so will I,” he said cryptically.
Merren said McLean would be truly missed but he was pleased to welcome Piercy. “His combination of private sector and government experience will be a valuable asset,” he said.
Ahead of his return to the show, Harris said he was working to put the unfortunate incident behind him and was looking forward to getting back to the job, as he thanked McLean and Solomon for filling the void while he was away and keeping the show on air.
Harris’ new sidekick, who is no stranger to the political arena having run for office twice in George Town on the UDP ticket, has 15 years’ experience in the financial services sector and public office experience from his time as director of the Department ofCommerce and Investment.
Category: Local News
The 2 minutes rule continues……….. yap, yap, yap, caller you are on, sorry you have 60 seconds left….. by now caller, yap, yap, yap, yap… caller you are next, the next caller have left, yap, yap, yap, caller are you there? yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, hellow caller? caller, are you still there? yap, yap, yap, caller, hellow, please turn the radio down, hellow caller your three minutes are up and please don't call back today. Yap, yap, yap, (phone ringing) yap, yap, go ahead caller hellow welcome back, caller your 3 minutes are up leave us there. Yap, yap, yap,phone rings and continues to ring while callers are forced to listen to yap, yap, yap, finally a caller get thru after 15 minutes, hellow caller you are on, hellow rooster nice to have you back, caller your 3 minutes are up remember the three minute rule, please leave us there caller, yap, yap, yap here is the reality of the new Rooster Talk Show oh by the way someone said this is the only talk show where the caller/guest are forced to listen. This is the YAP, YAP, Show on the Rooster, now over and out my 3 rule has expired and the moderator is asking me to leave him there now so now folks I must go my 3 minutes are up, while the Yap, Yap, still have his 15 minutes of fame starring on his own show.
Hope they'll bring Gilbert back to fill in as necessary. He brought a much needed maturity and breadth of experience to the discussions, I reckon.
It is now 7:26 Monday May 12, 2014 Austin is back on the Rooster the two minute rule is back, oh well now extended to three minutes. Austin's talk show is back on track, he got 6 caller most spoke for less than 3 minutes and Austin is still talking, not a word from Jonathan yet, oh yes he is speaking now.
Good morning – the rooster crows again – Super Tuesday is back, Opposition Wednesday is back, the government members will be back. This is very good, we need to put partisan politics behind us. We are all Caymanians and we need to hear from all sides to make informed decisions.
WELCOME BACK – The Talk show rules from one minute to three callers are limited to 2 calls per day.
Quincy or #1 fr the brac would be a great on rooster!
We want Austin Rooster! We want Austin Rooster!
Male domination on the airwaves! Sad …
Start your own radio station and talkshow and hire only women then. Otherwise, STFU!
A man
I agree (9/05/2014-10:51). Elio is so smarter than those that are knocking him, that he got elected, bought a Benz while all of you still riding scooters and brooms. A bunch of Haters!
It's true, Ellio is smarter than those who elected him.
He 'bought' that Benz mighty quick after the elections
Yes, silly thing to do really, particularly as he was presenting himself as very much the champion of the needy. Lack of common sense, I reckon.
He bought a Benz, what does that have to do with anything, and why should anyone be jealous? is this not a christian nation and is one of the commandments not to covet?
Why on earth suspend him inthe first place if you're just going to let him back on before the police have resolved this one way or another? Let's not forget that Austin has never denied there was an "incident" …. he should have taken his own moral position and declined to return until he has faced the music or his name is cleared. Betcha on Monday, he will say that he's prayed on it and God said everything is OK.
Was he charged and found quilty of the assault
Why? He is an employee for a private company not some public elected offical. If you are working for the private sector and are accused of a crime, you typically don't get suspended and put on leave until the outcome of your trial, especially as in Cayman, an trial date could be several years away.
At least we no longer have to listen to Gilbert reciting an advertisement for, say,Cayman Airways. That was truly painful.
Welcome back Austin and wish Mr. Percy a sincere sucess. Let’s try and keep it Fair. I look forward to it. Mr. Gilbert I sure will miss you and your very experienced and factual recounting of Past Governments and wish you the Best. Elio I thought you did a pretty good Job except when your want to be Politically verbal many times and we wish you the Best. Michel Lemay
One would be hardpressed to claim trading Ellio for Jonathan is a not an improvement.
Give Piercy a chance.
Maybe even Austin will improve over time.
lol! well back to being the only talk show where the guest only listen!!
Ok Rooster I will tune in again. Sorry to see Gillie go but Ellio………more irritating than a sworm of sandflies on the attack when you skinny dipping at dusk on the beach !!!
Sounds like most of what Elio was saying hit you on the head. I thought he was a very refreshing break from the garbage that was normally spewed, but now things go back to normal, I am one who will not be settling for that. I sure hope an alternative come on the scene. Mr. McLean, you were the saving grace of the show with Austin. Now, nothing can make him look good.
Cayman Kind – boy unni mean to unni people, what could Elio have done that was so terrible? oh ok don't answer me…on second thoughts, go ahead, make my day. Its Friday, I need a good chuckle.
Well I can finally tune my radio back to Rooster in the mornings now that Foolio is gone. Hope its for good!!! Welcome back Austin!!!
This management decision to bring him back is puzzling. The report says "The police have confirmed that Harris remains on police bail but Randy Merren, the owner of the station, said his host deserved a second chance."
Austin is out on bail which means his guilt or innocence has not been decided. Therefore, what is the reason for a second chance? Was the reason for his suspension not because a criminal action has been brought against him? If he is convicted will Randy not then suspend/fire him? I think the managment decision in the first place was flawed. Either they should have said that a man is innocent until proven guilty or suspend him pending the outcome. They chose the latter for I guess public image reasons. Let that decision stand. A second chance only comes about if he is found guilty, satisfies the sanction and then asks to be re-employed
I wish Gilbert all the best but, I am glad to see him go, Gilbert appears to be a good individual but, he just was not cut out for radio or entertainment in general. As for Austin, I hope he keeps much of his bias comments to himself and let the people voice their opinions as Ellio did, rather than yap constantly with very little time for calls to contribute.
Thank God! I could not tolerate the sound of Ellio's voice. His self praising, his negativity and his bias against this government, just turned me off. Now I can listen again to constructive criticism and even listen towhat Mr. Piercy the former UDP candidate has to offer. Hope he is entering this public outlet with an open mind and I hope he has something positive to offer us the listening public. Welcome back Austin and I pray you have learnt from your mistakes and will move on as a model father and citizen to our society.
"your hot and your cold, your in and your out, we fight and break-up, we kiss and make up"….
can hear the Katie Perry song in my head………….
it's "you're" as in "you are".
When is Mr. " I am not afraid "..returning to the show?
"Live from C-Block, it's the undeniable – Joey "Rob Ford" Ebanks!!!!"
Are there any old muppet characters or unloved root vegetables who need something to do of a morning? Would be an improvement.
Oh Lord Chaos is returning and Anarchy has joined. No one will be listening, people will be cut off in mid sentence. Mike hawk will take all the time to yap, yap,yap. When that is done the big bad wold will huff and puff and blow you off. Oh my goodness, please Ezzard and Arden return to the show or I'll be forced to turn off the radio from Monday to Friday mornings. To Ellio go luck and good speed, to Gilbert so sorry to see you go but like they say you just can't keep a good man down.
So, we are not having no more UDP talk show? how will I get to enjoy bashing a and criticizing PPM or anyone else in the morning?
Gilbert is not the best "radio man" but is one of the best man I have met. Dealing with Elio shouldnt have been easy.
godspeed!
Well it was unevitable. Ossie stated publicly he was doing everything he could to get rid of Folio, well it has come to pass!
make him put the same efort into doing his day job
I am sure Merren's decision was based solely upon giving Harris a second chance, the lack of businesses on Thursdays and the boycott of the talk show by government as long as Ellio was in the studio had nothing to do with the change.
The day after day of open mike listening to the same 6 callers again and again with Ellio reviewing his accomplishment while in the LA had nothing to do with Merren's forgiveness.
"And today's topic of discussion is domestic abuse . . ."
oh how i love those anonymous critics,dont have the cohones to identify themselves,hiding ,dodging,smirking,thinking to themselves,they cant see the skeletons in my closet.what would really happen if your nights should turn to days.
Says Mr Anonymous. By the neanderthal tone and awful grammar, I take it you are a regular caller to Crosstalk. And it is "cojones" by the way.
Typical expat post. Evading the point by focussing on grammar. Dude, these are posts on a news website, not scholarly articles. So long as the post is intelligible that is all that matters.
Look, if you mean "balls" then damn well have the guts to it, okay?
And do you have the 'cohones' to identify yourself then?
Here we go! the hate bloggers have started!
Boy-O-Boy! Two of the worlds biggest egos! This has to be exciting!
STAY TUNED:
What happened you find someone with egos bigger than yours!!!
Sounds like the ego comment hit one of your nerves. Or should I say ego.
How does one become "bare faceted"? You probably meant "bare-faced", if so, I'm not sure you would make a good lawyer
Welcome back Austin. I can now start listening to Rooster again effective Monday . I really missed you, hope Ezzard and Arden will return also.
Ah yes, Ezzard is good for the comedy value alone, although there are limits to how funny racist, xenophobic and bigoted diatribes can be.
Austin you are such a great person and I am so happy that I will hear your voice back on the radio on Monday. May God continue to bless you.
What a mess!!! At least there are alternatives.
Hot 104.1 fm will make your drive to work a happy one
Second chance ?! By my reckoning this is his fifth or sixth chance…..
A leopard never changes its spots, no matter how many chances it gets.
Big mistake Randy. You should have let folio go and kept Gilbert. I wont be tuning in, too much negativity. Same half dozen people calling in spouting ignorance.
I prefer the Jordanian with Dr. loarka
I was waiting for this news as I stopped listening as soon as Humpty Dumpty came back.
Once Follio is gone, which is Friday, I will now listen back to the talkshow.
All the best Gilbert. THANK YOU
Replace both with drones
Agree, thank you Gilbert. Teacher (very briefly) politician (briefly) administrative civil servant (briefly) condo manager (briefly) seller of coconut water at blowholes (briefly) and broadcaster (briefly). You know more than most Caymanians how difficult it is to make it in Cayman.
Gilbert was an MLA from 1988-2005. That's not brief at all. He was a senior civil servant from the late 70's to the late 80s'. Also not brief at all.
Just when you thought that it was safe……
Well that is better than Ellio.I might tune in again.
You bunch of black crabs. it comes to no surprise that we have so many people that hate their own for no oiher reason than, hate hate hate. WHAT DID ELLIO DID TO YOU THAT MAKE YOU ALL HATE HIM SO?
Is it because he got bigger balls than you? Is it his education?if this isnt the case, then stop being an ass h@@@ and tell the people what he did.
Simple!!!!!!!!!! HE IS SUCCESSFUL!!!! Has a beautiful family, served his country in a passionate way and lost on principle – did not turn his back on his party leader conveniently, and is a Caymanian from the 'other side of the track' who should not have graced the halls of LA or gotten anywhere.
He got my vote, and will again.
You have a strange definition of success. He was booted out of office after only one term when people saw his true colours. XXXX Who can forget that bursting into the studio at Rooster while they were on air? As for turning his back on his party leader, Ellio signed that paper agreeing to remove him initially same as the rest did but was looking to parlay that into a seat in Cabinet. When that didn't happen then he was conveniently in favour of keeping McKeeva in power. Even in that he showed a lack of backbone to do the right thing for its own sake and not just what he could personally gain from it. Those MLAs who voted McKeeva out as premier and then lost the election can argue that they lost on principle, but Ellio certainly can't. Good riddance.
At least we won't have to listen to Ellio "campaign" every morning now. Gonna miss Gilbert though. Sometimes you can almost see him sitting there shaking his head!
Two more pefectly good reasons not to tune in to that diatribe.
Thank goodness we no longer have to listen to Foolio and his UDP sidekicks Mac and Jordanian. I stopped listening but can return now…Thank you.
How you like this???
Thank you for getting rid of Foolio…now we can listen again.
I keep hearing you guys call this guy Foolio, but he is a lot smarter than some of you idiots!!!!
Not to worry – that's how Caymanians treat each other -we don't want to see the other succeed. We would much rather have an expat succeed that one of our own. I see that same behaviour where I work too.
Back stab the Caymaian manager but suck up to the permit holder. As Caymanians we are our own worse enemy.
Elio is smarter than 90% of the people on this blog.
Thats your yardstick?
Sure hope Foolio takes Mac with him as it was getting stale listening to the same six callers, calling in twice daily, and Mac preaching his sermons spewing thesame garbage over and over every Wednesday. Hope we get Rooster back and Radio UDP is gone for good.
People you all have a choice,we have many radio stations,listen to one of your choice,and shut the hell up.who is asking you to tune in to rooster?we don't miss you,we don't care,you can even find a hole and crawl in as far as I care.but the show will go on.many of you haters will secretly listen anyhow.bunch of liars.