The duo didn’t produce well in the ratings however, and their tenure was short lived. On JWhatley and Bennington unceremoniously returned to the Florida airwaves in the 1 PM to 3 PM slot on Tampa Bay, Florida’s The Buzz WBAA-AM 1010, a relatively low wattage station which adopted a new talk format, and abandoned its former sports talk format. After being canceled in New York City, as well as the other markets, they continued to broadcast from WJFK FM, and relocated to DC. Whatley and Bennington continued on WNEW until the end of 2002, as well as being simulcast to a few other FM markets, including WJFK-FM in Washington, DC. After a relatively short stint there, they then retitled the show: Ron and Fez Dot Com and premiered on overnights on New York City radio station WNEW FM on April 17, 2000. He chose to come out on the one-year anniversary of his father’s death.Īfter the show disbanded due to being cancelled for low ratings after the departure of Ron Diaz, Whatley then teamed up with Ron Bennington as a co-host to create The Ron and Fez Show on WKRO FM, a small Daytona Beach, Florida rock station. We have no records of past relationships for Rebecca Marino.On February 24, 2012, Fez came out as gay.Fez had been playing a flamboyant character on the air for more than 20 years, but became increasingly uncomfortable in the role after recognizing his sexual orientation and being unable to publicly embrace it.Īfter admitting his sexuality to his co-host Ron Bennington three years earlier, Fez spoke openly on the air about his issues as a closeted man, referring to his “secret,” but had remained unable to say it directly. Fez returned to the air on Monday, March 7, and offered a touching remembrance of his father. 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. He received a publication award from the International Thespian Society when he was in high school.Whatley graduated from Pinellas Park High School in Pinellas Park, Florida in 1982, and received a publication award from the International Thespian Society.On February 24, 2011, Fez’s father, Dick Hillier died in a NYC hospital. He came out of the closet on the one-year anniversary of his father's death (February 24, 2012). He does impeccable impersonations of Andre the Giant, Jan Brady, and Ric Flair. He was a gay rights activist before becoming out of the closet. He is still beloved by a number of Ron and Fez fans. He got drunk during a 2010 show and repeatedly threatened an intern with his life, claiming that said intern had started rumors about him appearing at a club. He brought in his cat during a live broadcast to prove this but the cat didn't do a damn thing. He believed his cat 'Skippy' could kiss people and say the word 'cookie' on demand. He suffered three heart attacks in five years, having one of them on the air but not realizing it.Īs of 2012, he still has not had sexual intercourse. He is very narrow-minded, particularly when people try to debate him. He sometimes cries on the air if someone hurts his feelings. He went from being a vibrant and quick-witted radio personality to one that barely says or contributes anything on the show he supposedly co-hosts. He has a very high-pitched, campy speaking voice. However, he soon later realized he actually was gay and became uncomfortable with his role on the show. His Fez Whatley character was designed to be a sterotypical, effimiately gay character portrayed by a straight man. Co-host of the Ron and Fez Show on SiriusXM radio with Ron Benningtonįormer executive producer of Ron and Fez and also the show's precursor, the Ron and Ron show in Tampa, Florida
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