Radio talk show host Don Imus is to return to his craft Monday as his new show debuts on WABC-AM early in the morning.

Don Imus has not had his say on radio since April, when he was disgracefully dismissed by MSNBC and CBS Radio for calling the Rutgers University's women's basketball team a bunch of “nappy-headed ho’s.”

Imus’ profuse apologies at the time were no palliative for upset civil rights activists such as the Rev. Al Sharpton and members of the public, who demanded that Imus be made to pay for his choice of words.

Imus has since maintained a low profile. Other than reports earlier this summer that a lawsuit he had filed against CBS Radio over alleged breach of contract had been settled in a satisfactory manner for both sides, there has been little heard about the veteran shock jock.

It was only in early November that his return to the airwaves was officially announced, with a morning show premiering at 6 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 3, on New York’s WABC-AM and other Citadel Broadcasting Corp. stations around the country.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report the deal between Imus and WABC-AM. The morning show will be simulcast on cable's RFD-TV, owned by the Rural Media Group Inc., and rebroadcast on radio in the evenings, according to media reports.

Imus, 67, will make his comeback with a four-hour premiere broadcast from Town Hall in Times Square. The Associated Press reports that $100 tickets were sold to benefit the Imus Ranch for Kids With Cancer. After its debut, the Imus morning show will be on 6-9 a.m. weekdays, from a studio across the street from Madison Square Garden.

Questions regarding Imus’ re-teaming with his former colleagues at CBS Radio remain, though there have been reports he will be joined by longtime newsreader Charles McCord, engineer Lou Ruffino and producer Bernard McGuirk, the latter also criticized and fired by CBS in April.

Imus is replacing WABC's morning team of Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby. There will reportedly be at least one regular black cast member on Imus’ show.

The Rev. Al Sharpton has not expressed complete disapproval of Imus’ return – yet. As to the people that hired him, they sound confident.

“I don't have any doubt on his future,” said Phil Boyce, WABC-AM program director. “He'll obviously be wiser, smarter and a bit more careful. He's learned from this. I'm not concerned that he'll have a repeat.”

Patrick Gottsch, founder and president of Rural Media Group Inc., said: “There is a real void in the morning with Don Imus not on the air. He's apologized heavily for the comments. He knew he made a mistake. You learn, you move on and I think most folks already have forgiven him.”

Imus has signed a five-year agreement with RFD but neither party has specified what the salary is.