

DON IMUS returned to the air MONDAY morning on CITADEL Talk WABC-A/NEW YORK and in syndication with a live broadcast from NEW YORK's TOWN HALL, introducing the members of his broadcast crew and guest performer LEVON HELM, who opened the show with "Ashes of Love." CHARLES MCCORD, BERNARD MCGUIRK, and, back at the studio, LOU RUFINO were introduced as returning to IMUS' show, and HACKENSACK MEDICAL CENTER aired a special spot as the first returning advertiser.
In the course of a long opening mea culpa for the controversy that got him fired in APRIL from CBS Sports WFAN-A/NEW YORK and WESTWOOD ONE, IMUS told the audience, "I think what happened is what should have happened... you don't get to decide, nor should you, how the news media is gong to treat a remark you made." Blaming himself for having made the remark, IMUS said that CBS' LES MOONVES called him before his scheduled meeting with the RUTGERS women's basketball team and told him that CBS couldn't handle the pressure and would fire him, although he praised MOONVES as "honorable."
Sens. CHRIS DODD (D-CT) and JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), historian DORIS KEARNS-GOODWIN, and pundits JAMES CARVILLE and MARY MATALIN were IMUS' scheduled guests for the opening broadcast.
At WABC, former morning co-host CURTIS SLIWA and newsman GEORGE WEBER handled 5-6a TODAY.