I have to admit I didn’t even know Dr. Demento was still on the air!
After 40 years of novelty-song and silly sketch radio, Barry Hansen, better known as Dr. Demento, is signing off the half-dozen stations that still carry his show.
He used to by nationally syndicated and I’m not sure where we caught The Dr. Demento Show when we were kids. Maybe CKOC in Hamilton? I can still sing most of the song Fish Heads and credit the Dr for lots of laughs. If you created something crazy, like a parody song, he would air it – it didn’t matter if you were a pro or not. That’s how he discovered Weird Al Yankovic and brought him to prominence. Demento’s novelty collection spans several albums which are apparently still available. He used to take the show on the road, too. Now he says the radio gig is losing money and it’s time to wrap it up on radio, despite the fun he continues to have. It will carry on at www.drdemento.com where there will be a new program this Saturday morning. I may just tune in for old time’s sake and a round of “fish heads, fish heads, eat them up, yum!”