'Jack Diamond' Radio Show: Long Wait Is Over for Fans

When fans of “The Jack Diamond Show” wake up Monday, instead of it being “Oh no, it’s Monday,” it will likely be more like Christmas morning.

Most say they are setting their alarms for 6 a.m. to tune into 107.3-FM, so as not to miss the debut of the DC radio morning show they’ve been missing for more than two years.

When “The Jack Diamond Morning Show” was yanked from the WRQX airwaves in DC after April 27, 2013, the program was replaced with a show that was the polar opposite: A non-local crew who knew next to nothing about the DC metro area and told crude jokes on the air.

With many in the DC metro area enduring long commutes to work, it was as if Cumulus Radio had pulled a longtime friend from the morning carpool. Diamond had been with the station for more than 20 years. He reportedly turned down a six-figure bonus offered by the company to make his departure a smooth transition.

After a year, the replacement, ”The Bert Show,” syndicated out of Atlanta, was dropped due to low ratings in the DC market.

Meanwhile, Diamond stayed in touch with his fans, on Facebook — they went along with him for more than two years as he posted photos of his travels, and read his news about new radio gigs in Miami, San Diego and Chicago. While they appreciated the updates, most of them wanted to know: “When are you coming back to DC radio?”

On Wednesday morning, Diamond dropped the good news bomb on his Facebook page, that the previous team of Diamond, Jimmy Alexander and Erica Hilary would return to their previous home on 107.3-FM Monday morning at 6 a.m. It was the equivalent of “we’re getting the old band back together.”

As of Sunday, the post had 3,627 “likes,” 790 shares and 1,808 comments. One fan said what many might have been thinking: “Don’t be messing with me Jack. Are y’all really coming back home?”

PHOTO courtesy of Jack Diamond via Twitter.

A sampling of what the show’s fans have to say:

• Winnie wrote: “Sometimes “change is good” is not so good! It’s so interesting that a radio show can stir up so much emotion in so many of us. We were devastated (as I am sure you guys were too!) when you left and now we are beside ourselves, eagerly anticipating Monday morning for your return. Best friends have moved back to the neighborhood!”
• Susan said: ”am so glad to have you, Jimmy and Erica back on the radio and easing my morning commute. Seriously, I’ve not listened to the radio since you left!”
• Leslie commented: “So, so, so happy about this!!!! We all have been waiting and hoping, and now it is a reality. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!!! Welcome back, Jack! I can honestly say that this is the first time in a long time that I have looked forward to Monday.”

Diamond commented: “Jimmy, Erica and I are SO blown away by your enthusiastic welcome home wishes and all of the really kind and special comments. We have been working on this project for two years! Thank you for keeping the faith. The show and Mix 107.3 return Monday Morning at 6AM with a lot of surprises, great music and YOU!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

If you’re new to the show, listen for the catchphrase “Love your show babe” from listeners and Diamond. “Free for All Friday” will be reportedly be back, when fans of the show head down to the studio on Friday mornings to watch the show, enjoy some breakfast and leave with a goody bag.

The show returns to the airwaves Monday from 6 to 10 a.m. on WRQX 107.3-FM.

Where are they now?

Other radio personalities heard on the previous “Jack Diamond Morning Show” have included:

• Chilli Amar is on 97.1. in DC.
• Aly Jacobs is now on country station WMZQ in the DC metro area.
• Brooke Ryan is on 96Live in Charleston, S.C.