The More Things Change ...

Update: Terrific piece by WNPR's John Dankosky on Johnny's gig and the state of broadcasting at WTIC. I agree completely.

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Disgraced former Gov. Johnny Rowland has signed a one-year contract to co-host an afternoon drive-time talk show on WTIC-AM.

Rowland, you may recall, also works for the city of Waterbury and its chamber of commerce promoting the city's economic development. As I recall, he makes a salary of almost $100k a year.

Now I, for one, don't see anything wrong with putting Johnny on the air with the preacher from Meriden. But here's a quote Johnny gave to The Waterbury Republican:

"It should be a lot of fun and exciting," Rowland said Tuesday. "I'll be able to continue promoting the city and give it statewide exposure."

Is this how Johnny sees his radio gig? A chance to promote Waterbury? Somebody at TIC had better set him straight. Unless, of course, the radio station thinks it's a swell idea.

Then there is also the matter of whether the city and the chamber should continue to pay him a full-time salary when he'll need to leave the office after lunch every afternoon. Johnny has a right to make a living, but I don't think the taxpayers will be getting much in return.

The more things change, the more they look like the same old Johnny.

P.S. Also loved seeing Johnny in the video handing out advice to Eddie Perez, the ex-mayor of Hartford who himself was just sentenced on corruption charges. I half expected Johnny to tell Eddie to try to land a radio gig after he gets out of prison — perhaps an overnight slot! You can't make this stuff up ...