Half of San Diego's ‘Jeff & Jer' Radio Duo to Retire

Radio personality Jerry Cesak has been on the air for more than 27 years in San Diego

After more than four decades in the entertainment broadcast business, longtime San Diego radio host Jerry Cesak announced his retirement Wednesday.

Cesak – half of San Diego’s famous “Jeff & Jer” radio duo – revealed the big news during his morning radio show, the “Jeff & Jer Showgram,” on KyXy 96.5.

Cesak said his final day on air will be Oct. 14.

In this letter to fans, he explained the reason for his retirement. In true Jer fashion, he couldn’t resist throwing a number of jokes and jabs at his fellow co-hosts in his “goodbye” announcement.

“The real reason I’m leaving radio can be told in 2 simple words, “It’s time,” Cesak wrote. “I think life comes in chapters, and in my life, the radio chapter is over. And that’s it. It’s just time.”

Cesak and his co-hosts assured listeners the KyXy “Showgram” will continue, even with one man down.

“Of course, it’s going to be awfully lame without me – but the ‘Showgram’ will still be on,” he razzed.
Cesak, who has been in radio for 45 years, admitted the transition into retirement will feel strange for him and said he will very much miss hosting the “Showgram.”

In his goodbye letter, he talked about what his fellow co-hosts mean to him, including his longtime friend and radio partner, Jeff Detrow.

“Jeff and I have been brothers and partners for 33 years. Professionally and personally we’ve shared so many life experiences. The greatest tribute to our partnership is this: since the beginning we’ve known that from the second we met, we’d be together,” Cesak wrote.

“On the radio, as long-haul truckers, running a bowling alley…whatever – we would have been doing SOMETHING together for the past 33 years. Hopefully, nothing religious. Before I met Jeff, I had a sister. Since 1982 I’ve had a brother,” he added.

The “Jeff & Jer Showgram” has been on the air in San Diego since May, 3, 1988.

Over the past 27 years, the show has been on several different local radio stations, including a four-year run on Clear Channel’s Star 94.1 where the duo had a contract dispute that took them off the air for a couple of years between 2009 and 2011.

Today, the show runs on the CBS Local radio station, KyXy 96.5.

In a post on the show’s Facebook page, “Showgram” longstanding producer and on-air sidekick Tommy Sablan reflected on the history of the morning radio show and Cesak.

“Jerry has had one of the most successful radio careers in morning radio history,” Sablan said. “The Jeff and Jer Showgram has been on the air in San Diego since May 3, 1988. That's over 27 years. We have been on the air for 5 U.S. Presidents.”

“We put on some memorable shows and we will continue to do so,” he added in his post. “Here's to the future and here's to Jerry.”

Despite Cesak’s departure, Sablan said CBS and KyXy 96.5 have signed the morning radio show for a few morning years. He said a new name for the show will be unveiled soon.

The “Showgram” will continue with Cesak’s co-hosts including Sablan, Detrow, Laura Cain, Randy Hoag and Emily Griffiths.
 

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