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You needn't be a disgraced politician or an ex-jailbird to land a radio show on Superstation 910 AM, based in Southfield. But it seems to be a big plus.
Ex-state Rep. Cindy Gamrat, who was expelled by colleagues after the wild and crazy affair with ex-Rep. Todd Courser, is the latest controversial figure to land a spot at WFDF.
Courser, who resigned from the state House just before he was about to get expelled, already has his own show on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Gamrat's show airs from noon-2 p.m. on Thursdays.
Other disgraced figures with shows include Christine Beatty, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's ex-lover and chief of staff. Beatty, who got caught up in a text-message scandal, admitted lying on the witness stand and served a little more than two months in jail in 2009. Her show runs Saturday from 5-7 p.m.
Wade McCree, booted as a Wayne County Circuit Court judge, also has a Saturday program from 9-11 p.m. He was ousted from the bench by the state Supreme Court for judicial indiscretions.
Ex-Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee is on weekdays 9 a.m. to noon. Godbee resigned as chief in 2012 amid allegations of a sex scandal involving a relationship with an underling.
The station does have its share of high-profile radio show hosts that have managed to avoid getting in trouble, including political commentator Steve Hood, journalist Cliff Russell, public relations specialist Karen Dumas,Wayne County Circuit Judge Vonda Evans, City Council member Mary Sheffield and political consultant Adolph Mongo.
Gamrat and Courser face criminal charges for misconduct in office.
In a statement to The Detroit News, Gamrat said she was honored for the chance "to give the inside scoop on how our elected officials are impacting our lives, what they are trying to hide, and what we can do to hold them accountable."
Her criminal attorney isn't happy with her new gig. Attorneys generally don't want they're client's opining publicly when they're facing criminal charges. It can give prosecutor's ammunition.
Jonathan Oosting of The Detroit News writes:
Gamrat’s criminal attorney Mike Nichols last week criticized 910AM and Adell on social media, suggesting the station is trying to take advantage of his client’s notoriety.
“Station owners like this guy are drug dealers who prey on the siren song of the high – the high of the belief that people in your audience and the airtime make you relevant,” Nichols wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post. “... It’s really sad that I can protect her from the government but I cannot protect her from this troglodyte.”
Nichols, who worked in radio prior to his legal career, said Monday “it’s the only industry that eats its young.” Superstation 910AM has made a habit of lining up “lightning-rod political figures” to fill out its schedule, he added.
