Rush Limbaugh Poison To Return To The Dial

Nov 05, 2003 Rush Limbaugh will return to the radio airwaves Nov. 17, MediaDailyNews has learned. The move follows the conservative radio talk show host's well- publicized stay in a treatment center for substance abuse.

Limbaugh recently celebrated his 15th year in radio and is also the industry's biggest star JUNKIE, garnering top ratings for many of the 650 stations that run his three-hour afternoon talk show and boasting 20 million listeners every week. But in early October, the radio commentator suffered professional and personal reverses. First, he quit was told to leave ESPN's "Sunday Night Football" after a controversial on-air stint where he took Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to task for his on-field performance race. And then, as rumors circulated that Limbaugh was being investigated by authorities in Palm Beach County, Fla., in a drug probe, he told listeners that he was addicted to ILLEGALLY OBTAINED prescription pain medication. Limbaugh said he was going to check himself into a rehab hospital for treatment of drug addiction, TO HELP STAVE OFF PROSECUTION FOR A FELONY

The talk show host's name came up Tuesday morning during a conference call discussing third-quarter earnings at Clear Channel Communications, the huge radio station owner that also owns the Premiere Radio Networks unit that produces Limbaugh's show. A Clear Channel executive said that Limbaugh should be out of the rehab hospital within seven to 10 days and that a full recovery is expected. CLEAR CHANNEL PRESSURED STATIONS AND ADVERTISERS DURING THE JUNKIE'S ABSENCE