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dori falls asleep on air
Dori catches some Zs during a commercial break after a long night. Always a fan of burning the candle at both ends, his habits caught up with him once when he fell asleep during a live show. (Photo: Jillian Raftery/MyNorthwest.com)

When Dori fell asleep on air

BY Jillian Raftery  on February 28, 2013 @ 3:16 pm (Updated: 4:28 pm - 2/28/13 )

Dori Monson is the consummate broadcast pro. But he admitted Thursday he once committed the gravest radio sin of all time: falling asleep live on the air.

Dori had been talking about his brush with death when he encountered an erratic driver on I-5 who later said he was having trouble staying awake while driving. Dori said he'd never fallen asleep at the wheel - but he had on-air.

Dori ended up with a weekday morning radio sports show, and then acted as executive sports producer for the rest of the day. On Saturdays Dori did a sports talk show, and on Sundays he was on-air for five hours straight.

"I was saying 'yes' to everything, I was 27 years old," said Dori, "I was working 55 hours a week for KING-5, and I was working about 30 hours a week for KING 1090 radio."

"I knew I wanted to get into news talk, so I did a news talk show from four to six, a sports show from six to eight," he said, "and then this horrible show called God Talk from eight to nine at night."

One weekend Dori had to fly out to Atlantic City to cover a boxing match. When he came back on Sunday, he went straight to work on God Talk.

He was alone in the studio, listening to a caller go on and on and on. It was warm, he was tired. He had his head on his fist.

And then came the crash.

"I'd been up for literally about 24 straight hours," said Dori. "And I just go out like a car. And all of the sudden, I don't know how long I was out, but all of the sudden, I hear in my headphones: 'Hello, hello? Dori, are you still there?'"

Next to his recent whistle-fail, he says it's his most embarrassing moment on-air.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (15)


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  • William Lawn wrote...
    His listeners regularly do
    February 28, 2013 3:53 pm
    So don't feel bad Dori.

    Isn't that a girls name?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    The price of overachieving in life...
    February 28, 2013 4:06 pm
    ...is underachieving at the things of life. It happens to everybody, but usually not this publicly. I have to wonder given the show subject (I talk with God, and you?) then, would his listeners notice, or figure he was called to something higher while on-air?! Holy silence then. It WAS a miracle!
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  • Clearwater3 wrote...
    Sorry I missed it...
    February 28, 2013 4:42 pm
    Monson finally adhering to the FCC requirements and broadcasting in the public interest...
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    Thanks for the laugh
    February 28, 2013 5:25 pm
    clear
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    Jillian
    February 28, 2013 6:04 pm
    Please tell Mr. Monson he probably has SLEEP APNEA. He should see his doctor so he can treat it if diagnosed. CPAP machines are very common today -and he will feel much less tired.
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  • Jraftery wrote...
    If only it were sleep apnea
    February 28, 2013 8:26 pm
    I think he's just one of those crazy "high metabolic" function people that only need a few hours of sleep! I could never do that. But I'll let Dori know that you've got his back, Cigarfan! Also, love the name. I love Cigars, too! - Jillian
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  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    What?...
    February 28, 2013 6:23 pm
    ...you didn't graduate college and land a job on good looks, a jump shot, and a nice résumé? You actually had to bust axx when you were younger and work tons of hours at multiple jobs to reach a goal? What kind of example does that set for our entitled populace? You should be using your position in the media to promote entitlement and the suckling on the government teat rather than work ethic and fortitude. This is a progressive America.... We don't roll like that anymore.
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  • longwayhome wrote...
    I don't listen to his show
    February 28, 2013 7:23 pm
    His whiney voice drives me crazy and he has nothing to say that interests me. Apparently many other people feel the same way. I'm sure that the "regulars" on this site think his crap doesn't stink, but that's because they are stupid republicans with no life, who post nonsense all day long (no jobs) unemployment and foodstamps, right? You there maplegarbageforbrains? hpd, xcop that never was a cop?
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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ longwayhome
    February 28, 2013 7:31 pm
    You wouldn't by chance be trolling, would you?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Oh brother
    March 1, 2013 9:19 am
    Trying to flip the stereotype. I get it.
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  • CH wrote...
    dori get some help
    February 28, 2013 7:30 pm
    your taking years off your life. If you go who will we laugh at? Hope you have time for mommy at night wink wink.
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  • ToldYa wrote...
    'Hello, hello? Dori, are you still there?'
    February 28, 2013 8:23 pm
    we're all still wondering...
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  • Newton wrote...
    Doesn't Dori have five daughters.
    February 28, 2013 10:47 pm
    Go easy on the Dori.
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  • Drool wrote...
    ...and Dori was driving like this.
    March 1, 2013 11:29 am
    The guy that is so anti drunk driver was himself driving impaired.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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