NEWS & ANALYSIS

Who Shot the Sherriffs? Murray waiting for next opportunity

Mike Cohen

It has been almost two months since Murray Sherriffs was let go by Astral Radio in Montreal, yet the calls and emails to me keep coming. People just want to know why he is no longer part of the Virgin 96 Radio, nee Mix 96, morning show and CJAD?s Gang of Four. There is a ?Bring Back Murray Sherriffs? Facebook page and noted blogger Steve Faguy, a.k.a. Fagstein (check him out at blog.fagstein.com) has had some news. But I figured I better get to the source. I reached Murray last week at his Hudson home. Even though he can now sleep in, after rising at 4 a.m., he remains an early riser. ?My body just won?t allow me to stay asleep past 6,? he said. When Mix announced in early December that it was being rebranded to Virgin 96 Radio, Sherriffs said he was called into the office of Bob Harris, vice-president of programming for Astral Radio?s three Montreal radio stations. After three and a half years of partnering Murray Sherriffs with Cat Spencer and Lisa Player, while contributing the most unique newscast in town, Sherriffs was told he was not a good fit for the new label. ?I was shocked,? he said, ?but not surprised. This is radio after all. It was done very professionally and I have no hard feelings. Our ratings for the Mix morning show were very strong, especially with the new PPMs (Personal People Meters) so to be truthful I had felt kind of safe in my position.? Does Sherriffs now regret leaving a secure job with Aaron Rand, Tasso and Suzanne on Q92 three and a half years ago when Mix 96 lured him over? Readers of this column will recall how angry and hurt Rand was at the time. ?I can never say a move was regrettable,? he said. ?I loved it at Q92. But I also loved it at the Mix.? Sherriffs says he is not rushing to seek work. He finds his extended vacation very relaxing and spends most of his time making furniture. Soon, though, he will begin knocking on a few doors. No doubt the new AM940 Montreal?s Greatest Hits could use someone with Sherriffs? following. Ditto for CBC Radio One. He?s had previous television experience with the Weather Network. How about Murray as Lori Graham?s backup on CTV? Item of interest? E-mail mcohen@thesuburban.com, call 514-84-1107, ext. 307 .

Feeling good inside

SECURITY ? COMFORT ? ACCESSIBILITY

MANY SERVICES INCLUDED: Five meals a week | electricity and heating around-the-clock surveillance magnetic key to enter building | cable and phone | laundry rooms

OTHER RESIDENCES WITH VACANCIES

Résidence Côte-Saint-Paul 514 933-2940 5400, ch. de la Côte-Saint-Paul (Sud-Ouest) Résidence Jean-Placide-Desrosiers 514 363-5353 55, av. Ouellette (Lachine)

Sunday, February 8

OPEN HOUSE FOR SENIORS

For more information on our network of assisted living residences for seniors: 514 872-6442 or omhm.qc.ca

An OMHM initiative RÉSIDENCE DES SOURCES 4200, boul. des Sources (Dollard-des-Ormeaux) 514 683-2323 Résidence Le Mile-End 514 278-2870 225, rue Maguire (Plateau Mont-Royal) Résidence Rosalie-Cadron 514 956-7422 12260, boul. Laurentien (Ahuntsic-Cartierville) THE WEST ISLAND SUBURBAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2009 ? 9

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

You need to upgrade the version of your Flash Player to version 9 minimum.

Click here

Adobe Flash Player Download Center