After only two months on the air, the “Pete and Sarah in the Morning” show on WVMT (620 AM) has come to an end. Cohosts Pete Belair and Sarah Mitiguy were informed after their Friday broadcast that they were being fired, Belair said. A new local talk show featuring Burlington City Council President Kurt Wright and DJ/podcaster Marcus Certa will take over the 6 to 9 a.m. broadcast on Monday.
Belair and Mitiguy had been cohosts of a morning music show on WXXX-FM (95 Triple X) until late last year. They moved to WVMT at the beginning of January, taking the place of longtime morning hosts Charlie Papillo and Ernie Farrar, who both retired. Now, with their new show coming to an abrupt end and their Triple X time slot filled by a nationally syndicated show, Belair and Mitiguy are looking for work.
“They told me how good I was at music but [that] I didn’t have the chops for political talk,” Belair said. Perhaps, but what did WVMT management expect? Belair is a veteran music host who’d never done talk radio before, and Mitiguy’s radio experience was all music, as well. If they were going to make a successful transition, two months was hardly enough time.
WVMT general manager JoAnn Cyr did not immediately return calls for comment.
WVMT and WXXX were sold in October by Paul Goldman to Burlington-based Vox AM/FM, which already owned WEZF-FM (Star 92.9), WCPV-FM (101.3 The Game), WXZO-FM (96.7 MeTV FM) and two other stations. Vox owner Ken Barlow wanted to keep “Charlie + Ernie in the Morning,” but the two men decided it was time to step away. Barlow then shifted Belair and Mitiguy from the FM station to the AM.
Certa confirmed that the new show would be called “The Morning Drive with Marcus and Kurt.”
“The show’s not going to change,” Certa said. “It’s about local politics and local news.” Wright, a former state representative who lost his seat last November, is known as a moderate Republican; Certa describes himself as “left of center.” But Certa said the tone of the program would be conversational, not confrontational.
“I’m not a radio person, but I’m excited about this opportunity,” Wright said. “I will be continuing to offer my opinions, but I relish the new aspect of the job: getting to ask questions of other people.”
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Gonna crash and burn…
I was not a fan of the post C&E show but I agree that two months was not enough time. Perhaps the small changes should have either not been done or been done all the way. Some of us are stuck in our ways and like things left alone! For instance, Rush ticks off the left at 0740… Not 0730, or 0727, or 0733… I wish them both well and hope that they land firmly, and successfully, on their feet.
Freyne would be proud. He would probably say something like ” well…Wright IS a talker”
Just what Vermont needs, Kurt Wright on the radio spewing his right wing nonsense and trashing up the Vermont airways. I guess the right wingers ( there is no such thing as a moderate Republican, they are all deplorable!) dont think they have enough representation on right wing talk radio.
In any event, he lost his election and hopefully well never see him in elected office here again. Maybe he should move to Alabama or Missippi. Those people are way more receptive to his political philosophy and world view.
While I am not a big Kurt Wright fan, @Roy seems totally ignorant of the rampant liberal flatlanders who have been trashing Vermont. One morning a week with Kurt was more than plenty, and was easy enough to tune out. Listening to them dismiss longtime loyal listeners concerns this morning was more than enough as well.
If they want to be so dismissive of the concerns expressed by loyal listeners, then I will also easily dismiss them. If they want to narrowly focus on their own interest in Bumbletowns liberal politics, then they can do it without me.
There are too many other better options to put up with their pompous dismissive nonsense.
Wright is a Republican?
He voted on the council for his own salary increase.
He votes whenever he can to raise taxes.
He is a walking, talking billboard for big spending – of YOUR money.
His nickname is #FakeSmile.
Republican?
What-ever.
This is positive news. Pete and Sarah tried hard, but they weren’t comfortable with political talk.
So awesome! And Jane Knodell can join him!