Morton Downey, Jr.
Born	December 9, 1932 Los Angeles, California, United States
Died	March 12, 2001 (aged 68) Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation	Talk show host, Singer, Actor, DJ
Website http://www.mortondowneyjrhome.com

Morton Downey, Jr. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A disc jockey (also known as DJ or deejay) is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience (born Sean Morton Downey; December 9, 1932 - March 12, 2001) was a controversial and influential American television talk show host of the 1980s who pioneered the "trash TV" format. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Tabloid talk shows are a genre of American television talk-shows that achieved peak viewership during the late 20th century

Contents 1 Career 2 Controversies 3 Attempted comeback 4 Personal life 5 Death from lung cancer 6 References 7 External links

Career

In the 1980s, Downey was working as a talk show host at KFBK-AM in Sacramento, California,^[1] where he established his abrasive and much imitated right wing, populist style, relentlessly deriding anyone who disagreed with him or had a liberal point of view. A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to KFBK (1530 AM, "NewsTalk 1530" is a Radio station in Sacramento California broadcasting on a Frequency of 1530 KHz. In Politics, right-wing, the political right, and the Right are positions that uphold traditional values and/or authorities Modern liberalism in the United States, also referred to as American liberalism, is a political ideology that seeks to use the power of the state to effect change upon society Downey's success, coupled with the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, laid the groundwork for more aggressive, opinion-based talk radio. The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC that required the holders of Broadcast licenses both to present controversial His work led to the "trash talk" genre of Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, Ricki Lake and many more. Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer (born February 13, 1944) is an English -born American Television personality, a former Maurice Richard "Maury" Povich (born January 17, 1939) is an American TV Talk show personality who currently hosts Ricki Pamela Lake (born September 21, 1968) is an American Actress and Tabloid talk show host perhaps best known for her long-running His fight with fellow radio talk show host Wally George (with each charging that the other was not conservative) on George's talk show led to police tackling Downey to the ground. George Walter Pearch, known as Wally George ( 4 December 1931 &ndash 7 October 2003) was an American conservative ^[2] The man who succeeded Downey at KFBK was Rush Limbaugh. Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951) is an American radio host and conservative Political commentator.

Downey later headed to Secaucus, New Jersey where his highly controversial television program The Morton Downey Jr. Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 15931 Show was taped for two years before it was canceled for low ratings. The program featured screaming matches among Downey, his guests, and his audience members. He would chainsmoke during the show and blow smoke in his guests' faces. ^[3] Downey's signature phrases pablum puker (referring to political liberals) and "zip it!" briefly enjoyed some popularity in the contemporary vernacular. Pablum is a processed Cereal for Infants originally marketed by the Mead Johnson Company in 1931 He particularly enjoyed making his guests angry with each other. ^[3] The Washington Post wrote about him, "Suppose a maniac got hold of a talk show. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D Or need we suppose?" David Letterman said, "I'm always amazed at what people will fall for. David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American late-night Talk show host and Comedian and the host since 1993 We see this every 10 or 12 years, an attempt at this, and I guess from that standpoint I don't quite understand why everybody's falling over backwards over the guy. "^[4]

The success of the show made Downey a pop culture celebrity, leading to an appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1988^[5], Wrestlemania V in 1989 and later roles in movies such as Predator 2 and Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation. Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) WrestleMania V was the fifth annual WrestleMania Professional wrestling Pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF Predator 2 is a 1990 Science fiction horror film starring Danny Glover and Gary Busey. Revenge of the Nerds III The Next Generation is a 1992 sequel to the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds. ^[6] He was also cast in several TV roles, often playing tabloid TV hosts or other obnoxious media types.

Controversies

In 1984, at KFBK radio, Mort uttered a politically incorrect word while telling a joke: Chinaman. His use of the word upset portions of the sizable Asian community in Sacramento. One Asian City Councilman called for an apology and pressured the station for Downey's resignation. Downey refused to apologize and was forced to leave.

In 1989, as fascination with Downey's show began to wane, he was involved in an incident in a San Francisco International Airport restroom in which he claimed to have been attacked by neo-Nazis who painted a swastika on his face and attempted to shave his head. San Francisco International Airport is a major international Airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States adjacent to the The term neo-Nazism refers to post- World War II Political movements Social movements and ideologies seeking to revive Nazism, The swastika (from Sanskrit: svástika sa स्वस्तिक Hindu IS CORRECT if 'ि' is positioned incorrectly see -->) is Some inconsistencies in Downey's account (e. g. , the swastika was painted in reverse, suggesting that Downey had drawn it himself in a mirror), and the failure of the police to find supportive evidence, led many to suspect that the incident was a hoax and a plea for attention. ^[7] A few months later, the show was canceled. ^[7] Years later, during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Downey admitted that he had orchestrated the entire "attack" -- even shaving the front of his own head in the desperate effort to save his show from cancelation, by its syndicator, MCA. MCA already had problems selling the show to stations and to advertisers because of Downey's antics and the show's overall content. At the time of its cancelation, The Morton Downey, Jr Show had been cleared on less than 30 stations across the country, and its advertisers had been limited to "direct-response" ads (900 chat line and phone sex numbers).

Downey was sued for allegedly appropriating the words and music to his theme song from two songwriters. ^[8] He was sued for $40 million after bringing a stripper onto the show and calling her a "slut," a "pig," a "hooker," and a "tramp," saying that she had diseases, and banging his pelvis against hers. ^[9] At one point, he was arraigned on criminal charges for attacking a gay guest on his show, in a never-aired segment. ^[10] In another lawsuit, he was accused of slandering a newscaster (a former colleague), and of indecently exposing himself to her and slapping her. ^[11]

Downey infamously hit Stuttering John with a boom-microphone and a chair on The Howard Stern Show and punched him. John Edward Melendez (born October 4, 1965) commonly known as " Stuttering John " is an American television/radio personality The Howard Stern Show is an American radio show hosted by Howard Stern on Howard 100, one of two channels on the subscription-based ^[12]

In interviews, he expressed regret for some of the extreme theatrics of his TV show, saying he had taken things too far. He added that he had been a "bastard. "^[3] However, he also claimed that his show was of a higher quality and not as "sleazy" as Jerry Springer's. Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer (born February 13, 1944) is an English -born American Television personality, a former ^[7]

Attempted comeback

In 1993, Downey attempted a comeback in talk radio on Dallas radio station KGBS, where he would scream insults at his callers. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) KFXR is an All News format Radio station in Dallas Texas, broadcasting on 1190 AM, and which began broadcasting in 1947 as KLIF ^[13] He was also hired as the station's VP of Operations. ^[14] The following year he had a short-lived television show, Downey on CNBC, that was similar in theme to his earlier, more popular show. ^[15] In one episode, Downey claimed to have had a psychic communication with OJ Simpson's murdered ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. Orenthal James "O J" Simpson (born July 9 1947 who has also been called The Juice, is a retired American football player, Nicole Brown Simpson ( May 19, 1959 - June 12, 1994) was the ex-wife of American football player O ^[7]

A second attempt at a talk radio comeback occured in 1997 on Cleveland radio station WTAM in a late evening time slot. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state WTAM is an AM radio station in Cleveland Ohio broadcasting on 1100 kHz with 50000 watts ^[16] It was a return to the Cleveland market, where Downey had been a host for crosstown WERE back in the late 1980s. ^[17] This stint came shortly after the surgery for lung cancer that removed one of his lungs. But on August 30, Downey quit his WTAM radio talk show to work full-time on persuing legal action against Howard Stern. Howard Allan Stern (born January 12 1954 is an American radio host and Television personality. Downey had accused Stern of spreading rumors that he resumed his smoking habits, which publicist Les Schester rebuked, "He hasn't picked up a cigarette. "^[18] His replacement was former WERE host Rick Gilmour. ^[19]

Like his father, Downey pursued music as a career, recording in both pop and country styles. Morton Downey ( November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985) was a Singer popular in the United States, enjoying his greatest Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. One song, "Green Eyed Girl" charted on the Billboard Magazine Country chart, peaking at #95 in 1981. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry See also Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 List of 'years in music' After the success of his talk show, Downey returned to the recording studio to cut an album of songs based on his show, Morton Downey Jr. Sings. The album's only single, "Zip It!" (a catch-phrase from the TV show, used to quiet an irate guest), became a surprise hit on some college radio stations. Following his death, news reports and obituaries incorrectly (according to the Orange County Register)^[20] credited him as the composer of "Wipe Out. The Orange County Register is a daily Newspaper published in Santa Ana, California. "^[21] As of 2007, Downey's official website (and others) continue to make this claim. ^[22]

Personal life

His parents were also in show business; his father Morton Downey was a popular singer, and his mother Barbara Bennett was a singer and dancer. Morton Downey ( November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985) was a Singer popular in the United States, enjoying his greatest Barbara Jane Bennett ( August 13, 1906 – August 8, 1958) is a little known early Silent film Actress. His aunts included Hollywood film stars Constance and Joan Bennett, from whom he was estranged, and his maternal grandfather was the celebrated matinée idol Richard Bennett. Constance Campbell Bennett ( October 22, 1904 &ndash July 24, 1965) was an American actress. Joan Geraldine Bennett (February 27 &ndashDecember 7) was an Emmy -nominated American stage film and television actress Richard Bennett may refer to Richard Bennett (actor, film star and father of actresses Constance Bennett and Joan Bennett Dick Bennett, Born into a life of luxury, he was raised next door to the Kennedy compound at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. The Kennedy family are a family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in the town of Barnstable Massachusetts, on Cape Cod ^[7]

Downey was married four times and had four children from three of those marriages. ^[3][7] With wife Helen he had Melissa, with Joan he had daughters Tracey and Kelli, and with fourth wife and widow Lori he had Seanna. ^[3] He and Lori met when she appeared as a dancer in a show he attended in Atlantic City. ^[3]

In the late 1960s Downey was one of the owners of the New Orleans Buccaneers basketball team in the American Basketball Association. New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National

Death from lung cancer

In 1996, Downey was diagnosed with lung cancer and had one of his lungs removed. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Lung cancer is a Disease of uncontrolled Cell growth in tissues of the Lung. He did a complete about-face on tobacco use, going from a one-time member of the National Smokers Alliance to a staunch anti-smoking activist. He continued to speak against smoking until his death from lung cancer in 2001 at age 67. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. ^[23] After being diagnosed with lung cancer, he said, "I had spawned a generation of kids to think it was cool to smoke a cigarette. Kids walked up to me until a matter of weeks ago, they'd have a cigarette in their hand and they'd say, 'Hey, Mort,' or, 'Hey, Mouth, autograph my cigarette. ' And I'd do it. "^[3] He also blamed tobacco companies for lying to consumers about cigarettes. ^[3]

References

External links

• Official Morton Downey Jr. Web Site
• Morton Downey Jr. at the Internet Movie Database

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic