SYRACUSE -- At the start of his self-titled talk show today, Gary Nolan announced today is his last day at Citadel's 105.9 The Big Talker (WXTL). Just a little over a year since Nolan returned to Syracuse, he's heading back to Columbia, Missouri to launch a nationally-syndicated show.
Nolan made the announcement right at the top of his 4-7pm show today, and CNYRadio.com readers were quick to send in reports via email. We also heard from Citadel Ops Manager Tom Mitchell, who says "we thank Gary for his contributions to the launch of New York State's first FM [commercial] talk station and wish him good luck in his future endeavors."
Mitchell says a nationwide search will commence for a new local afternoon drive host. Until then, the three syndicated shows which had aired during the midday hours will get some extra time on the WXTL schedule, as follows:
Mitchell did not say whether WXTL would carry Nolan's national show once it launches. A CNYRadio.com reader who was able to listen to Nolan's announcement said the host had talked to Citadel about carrying his new show, but no firm decision has been made. Nolan apparently mentioned that the national show will run in an earlier timeslot, meaning carriage on WXTL would likely require some serious schedule rearranging and/or carriage of Nolan would be tape-delayed.
Nolan, who previously worked in Syracuse as a talk show host on 62WHEN in the 1990s, announced a run for President in 2003, as a member of the Libertarian Party.
Our thanks to Tom Mitchell for including cnyradio@cnyradio.com on his press release distribution list, and to anonymous CNYRadio.com readers who used our Contact Form to supplement the news with some additional details. Anytime there's news happening at your station -- or even if you don't work in the business but you happen to know of something we haven't reported yet, please let us know!
Have Gary on now as I write this - he's said a couple times that Citadel, or at least WXTL, has "expressed interest" in carrying his new show. We'll keep our fingers crossed, at any rate.
Apparently the new show will run during the same timeslot as Stephanie Miller, also. That wouldn't exactly be a loss.