Don Imus returned to the airwaves Monday — eight months after his firing for racist and sexist remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team — by introducing a new, diverse cast that included a black woman.

As he did several times in the days after the episode, Imus called his remarks "reprehensible" and said the women were "innocent people" who didn't deserve to be made fun of.

He said that every time he would get upset about how he was treated — he was fired from CBS Radio and MSNBC — "I would remind myself that if I hadn't said what I said, then we wouldn't be having this discussion."

Imus apologized Monday again to the players.

"I will never say anything in my lifetime that will make any of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave me," he said. "And no one else will say anything else on my program that will make anyone think that I didn't deserve a second chance."

While saying he had learned his lesson, he added — to applause from the live audience at Manhattan's Town Hall: "The program is not going to change."

His debut, on WABC-AM, completed a comeback that seemed improbable at the height of the uproar back in April over his calling the players "nappy-headed hos."

His guests on Monday's show included historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sens. John McCain and Chris Dodd, and political analysts James Carville and Mary Matalin.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — Don Imus returned to the airwaves Monday before a live studio audience, introducing a long list of cast members on his new morning show, including a black woman.

Just eight months ago, Imus was criticized as racist, targeted for daily protests and forced from the airwaves over remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team.

"I want to take a minute to introduce this new incarnation of 'Imus in the Morning,'" Imus said Monday.

His debut, on WABC-AM, completed a comeback that seemed improbable at the height of the uproar back in April over his calling the players "nappy-headed hos."

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