KLIF Wheels Onboards Honda of
Denton. But Ed Wallace Not On Board With It.
2025 May 20
The cause of Ed Wallace’s recent shutdown of Wheels remains unclear. Wallace claimed that he is “worn out”. That might be part of the story, but it is likely not the whole story.
A contributing cause might be the onboarding of a sponsor that Ed Wallace seemingly does not approve. The last commercials for Norm Reeves Honda Superstore North Richland Hills aired on the final Saturday of 2024. Soon afterwards, the referral to Norm Reeves Honda disappeared from the purchase page of Wheels’ companion website (insideautomotive.com). Never mind Wallace’s frequent refrain that such referrals are there due to friendship and not due to compensation.
Well, two Saturdays later (January 11, 2025), the first commercials Honda of Denton air on Wheels. This new sponsor runs two spots per show, which continues through the next two months (roughly) that the radio show ran as Wheels. During that time period, the Honda of Denton referral is never added to the purchase page of Inside Automotive website. There is no other instance where a dealer runs commercials on the Wheels radio show but does not appear the Wheels’ companion website.
When introducing the managing partner of Denton of Honda (Rob Tharpe), both Ingram and Grantham eagerly want to tell you ‘bout their new best friend. And then Ingram proceeds to list the car dealership managers, Wheels’ sponsors past and present, with whom this guy is buddies.
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Wheels with Don Grantham and
John Ingram
John Ingram Don Grantham [SKIP WEATHER TANGENT] Don Grantham John Ingram Don Grantham John Ingram Don Grantham John Ingram Don Grantham John Ingram Don Grantham John Ingram Don Grantham [Some
extraneous interjections omitted for readability.] |
So over the top was the above praise of Rob Tharpe as their great friend, one would not have been surprised had the hosting duo broke into a song that conjures up images of Bill Bixby.
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The Courtship of Eddie's Father
opening titles
He's a warm hearted person who'll love me till the
end. People let
me tell you ‘bout my best friend, He's a one boy
cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy. People let me tell you 'bout him he's so much fun Whether we're talkin' man
to man or whether we're talking son to son. Cause he's my best friend. Yeah he's my best friend. [SCAT FINISH] |
Yet with all that praise, one glaring omission arose.
For the many folks enumerated whom supposedly share a deep comradery, Ed Wallace is not included. This omission implies that Ingram and Grantham engaged a sponsor whom Ed Wallace does not approve. And that impression is bolstered by Ed Wallace not adding a Honda of Denton referral to the purchase page of his Inside Automotive website.
This confluence of events also conjures up images of Bill Bixby.
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The Incredible Hulk title sequence
And now when
David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. Doctor
David Banner “Mr. McGee, Don’t make me angry. Announcer |
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The Incredible Sulk title sequence
And now when
Ed Wallace grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs. Ed Wallace “You will come to see the ruins of our government and how it will impact America and American lives forever.” Announcer |
What is past is prologue. When the Fort Worth Star-Telegram told Wallace to shorten his articles, Wallace quit the paper. He took his ball and went home. Is it possible that when a sponsor not of Wallace's choosing was added to the show, Ed Wallace again decided to take his ball and go home?
ED… MAD!
ED… BASH!
-- Related Stories --
2025 April 12 - Norm Reeves Auto Group Says Cheers to All North Texas Automotive Radio
2025 April 2 - A Saturday Morning Detention Discontinues as Ed Wallace Exits KLIF
