Dr. Demento Announces Retirement After 55 Years

Dr. Demento, whose long-running comedy radio show helped introduce the world to “Weird Al” Yankovic, Cheech & Chong, and more, is ending his broadcast career after 55 years.

The radio DJ, born Barrett Hansen, will end production on The Dr. Demento Show following its October 11th, 2025 episode. From now until then, episodes will focus on the show’s history, greatest moments, and most beloved novelty songs. The final broadcast in October will be dedicated to the top 40 songs in the program’s history.

The weekly radio show was nationally syndicated from 1974 to 2010 before transitioning fully online, where it has continued to broadcast via his official website. Demento was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2009, and was portrayed by Rainn Wilson in the biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.