KLBJ cancels “Todd and Don Show”

After a series of meetings between Hispanic leaders angry about the repeated use of a derogatory term on last week’s “Todd and Don Show” and representatives of Emmis Austin Radio, KLBJ590 announced Monday that it had cancelled the morning talk program.

 

In addition, Don Pryor, who used the word “wetback” 34 times during last Tuesday’s show, has been banned from the airwaves. His co-host Todd Jeffries will continue as news director and Pryor, the son of humorist Cactus Pryor, will continue to work at the station as a producer according to Scott Gilmore, KLBJ’s VP & Market Manager.

 

Both Pryor and Jeffries were suspended without pay until Aug. 6, Gilmore said at a news conference with Hispanic leaders Monday. He called the decision to use the offensive term a “misjudgment.” If management had been asked about use of the word before hand, Gilmore said, it “would have been on the cutting room floor.”

 

He said the station heard from hundreds of KLBJ-AM listeners, as well as many other members of the community concerning the offensive language.

 

The United States Hispanic Contractors Association had threatened a boycott of all Emmis stations and its advertisers, touting the consumer buying power of Hispanics locally and nationally. But following meetings with Gilmore, association Chairman Frank Fuentes said the group was satisfied by Emmis’ actions and would call off the boycott.

 

Among those participating in the meetings and press conference were former Senator Gonzalo Barrientos and former Mayor Gus Garcia.