KFI Major Schedule Change Starting Tomorrow

[Rusty Muck]

Hate to tell you, Patrick...

Having worked for many years with a bunch of people who worked with Rush, and having some mutual friends (all told, about 20 people), Rush was, at least until 2010 or so, much more moderate than his on-air persona.

It's possible that he evolved to a more hardline set of beliefs in the final 10 years of his life and career, but as people above noted, in talk radio, every day you need to stir the pot. And it's even more critical when you align yourself with a political movement that doesn't take dissent or contradictory facts well.

Basically, in that situation, you're the guy feeding the alligators. If you run out of red meat, they'll eat you.

Gary D. Gilbert is one other such example. On-air he was right-wing shock jock “Gary Dee” over Cleveland radio in the 1970s, but in private was fairly mild-mannered … most of the time. Unfortunately his on-air persona famously took over him several times and he was arrested on charges of abusing his wife, TV personality Liz Richards. His comeback attempt in the late 1980s not only fared poorly, it helped initiate hearings on indecency by the FCC.

I would tend to believe that, up until 2009, Rush the person and Rush the on-air talent were two (mostly) different people. What followed in the decade afterward is reminiscent of what happened to cartoonist Al Capp; in his last decade drawing Lil’ Abner, the strip sharply changed in focus and became painfully political and a vehicle for Al’s worldview, which hardened with the political turmoil of the late 1960s.

Had Rush retired in, say, 2008, he probably would be reflected on differently. Maybe not a lot differently, but differently nonetheless.

 

[david]

If I recall correctly the "entertaining gay couple" was a ratings disaster. It was definitely terrible radio. KFI admitted its mistake by bringing J&K back as quickly as possible. Clear sailing, so to speak, ever since.

Karel and Andrew
(after Andrew's passing, Karel was on KGO San Francisco for several years)

 

[hotpatrick2004]

John and Ken being the last right leaning angry white man talk show in the line up, are becoming more out of place on KFI. Wouldn't they be better suited if moved over to 1150? I think this would not only help improve KEIB, but if they gave Wayne Resnick the 1-4 slot, KFI would be listenable all day long. Wayne as part of Handel's morning show and usually first choice for fill in is one of KFI's best and most underused talent. No one deserves a chance more than Resnick to get a full time show on weekdays.

I really like listening to KFI...except between the hours of 1 to 4.

That will never happen bet my life on that. I couldn't disagree with you more. John and Ken have an excellent show! They fit in just fine with the lineup. All in all it's a decent lineup in my opinion. While I am no fan of Bill Handel he is funny and entertaining. And while I don't care for Mo Kelly I can see why they added that kind of show.

When bill retires I say steal John Phillips from KABC or bring Brian Whitman to KFI but who knows when that will happen.

 

[gr8oldies]

Gary D. Gilbert is one other such example. On-air he was right-wing shock jock “Gary Dee” over Cleveland radio in the 1970s, but in private was fairly mild-mannered … most of the time. Unfortunately his on-air persona famously took over him several times and he was arrested on charges of abusing his wife, TV personality Liz Richards. His comeback attempt in the late 1980s not only fared poorly, it helped initiate hearings on indecency by the FCC.

I would tend to believe that, up until 2009, Rush the person and Rush the on-air talent were two (mostly) different people. What followed in the decade afterward is reminiscent of what happened to cartoonist Al Capp; in his last decade drawing Lil’ Abner, the strip sharply changed in focus and became painfully political and a vehicle for Al’s worldview, which hardened with the political turmoil of the late 1960s.

Had Rush retired in, say, 2008, he probably would be reflected on differently. Maybe not a lot differently, but differently nonetheless.

It would appear that aging can do strange things. Example might be Rudy Juliani as "America's Mayor" vs the man who stood in front of the landscaping place, and went to hearings with hair dye dripping down his face. (I saw Rudy in one of those all-star motivational events; Zig Ziglar and Tom Peters were on the bill).

 

[Sean Cocca]

That will never happen bet my life on that. I couldn't disagree with you more. John and Ken have an excellent show! They fit in just fine with the lineup. All in all it's a decent lineup in my opinion. While I am no fan of Bill Handel he is funny and entertaining. And while I don't care for Mo Kelly I can see why they added that kind of show.

When bill retires I say steal John Phillips from KABC or bring Brian Whitman to KFI but who knows when that will happen.

Brian Whitman I can see, but John Phillips is another host that's Flanderized themselves in order to fit into the rightwing mediasphere. There's a reason he's at KABC.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Brian Whitman I can see, but John Phillips is another host that's Flanderized themselves in order to fit into the rightwing mediasphere. There's a reason he's at KABC.

Your clearly very biased against conservatives. I repeat John and Ken will never move to 1150. They will forever be at Kfi for as long as they want to be.

 

[Sean Cocca]

Your clearly very biased against conservatives. I repeat John and Ken will never move to 1150. They will forever be at Kfi for as long as they want to be.

I never said they'd move there. I used to like John and Ken -- maybe a decade ago. They've just continued down this path of old angry white men screaming about everything they don't understand and, honestly, that gets really boring really quickly. Conservative media is inundated with that product. I listen to radio to be entertained, not to have my mood soured by constant carping.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

I never said they'd move there. I used to like John and Ken -- maybe a decade ago. They've just continued down this path of old angry white men screaming about everything they don't understand and, honestly, that gets really boring really quickly. Conservative media is inundated with that product. I listen to radio to be entertained, not to have my mood soured by constant carping.

They understand quite well.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I never said they'd move there. I used to like John and Ken -- maybe a decade ago. They've just continued down this path of old angry white men screaming about everything they don't understand and, honestly, that gets really boring really quickly. Conservative media is inundated with that product. I listen to radio to be entertained, not to have my mood soured by constant carping.

I found them very entertaining and when I was on the left I found rush very entertaining I don't think they're boring at all and also I think that like Stephanie Miller is pretty funny entertaining I don't like her views but I find her very funny

 

[Ray D. Owe]

Reading this thread has been hilarious. The amount of utter ignorance masquerading as cocksure understanding of KFI behind the scenes is breathtaking. No point in calling out the worst offenders, but rest assured, the more confident the assumptions and opinions expressed, the farther from the truth the person is. If you knew how off base you were, you’d be mortified with embarrassment.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

If you knew how off base you were, you’d be mortified with embarrassment.

Nope. Most of us have no shame.

 

[KilowattKat]

It would appear that aging can do strange things. Example might be Rudy Juliani as "America's Mayor" vs the man who stood in front of the landscaping place, and went to hearings with hair dye dripping down his face. (I saw Rudy in one of those all-star motivational events; Zig Ziglar and Tom Peters were on the bill).

Yeah, that Rudy, always getting caught with his pants down...literally, if you saw the last Borat movie! 😅

 

[ILOVERADIO]

I never said they'd move there. I used to like John and Ken -- maybe a decade ago. They've just continued down this path of old angry white men screaming about everything they don't understand and, honestly, that gets really boring really quickly. Conservative media is inundated with that product. I listen to radio to be entertained, not to have my mood soured by constant carping.

John and Ken IMO, like the syndicated Armstrong and Getty mornings on KABC are uniquely populist. They both have very entertaining and funny shows. Both cover the California homeless crisis as a lack of Will to require treatment and movement to shelters for homeless people. Both shows are consistently in the Talkers top 30. Both are pretty libertarian, not hostile to gays or minorities. I’ve heard John and Ken say they have the largest listenership of any local talk radio show in America.

If it weren’t for these 2 shows, I’d trash my AM radio.

 

[TheBigA]

I’ve heard John and Ken say they have the largest listenership of any local talk radio show in America.

Even if it's true, the reality is that their audience is a small minority of the LA population.

To put it in context, KKGO has said they have the largest listenership of any country station in the US.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

John and Ken IMO, like the syndicated Armstrong and Getty mornings on KABC are uniquely populist. They both have very entertaining and funny shows. Both cover the California homeless crisis as a lack of Will to require treatment and movement to shelters for homeless people. Both shows are consistently in the Talkers top 30. Both are pretty libertarian, not hostile to gays or minorities. I’ve heard John and Ken say they have the largest listenership of any local talk radio show in America.

If it weren’t for these 2 shows, I’d trash my AM radio.

I wonder if moving from 2 till 6 to 1 to 4 has affected there numbers at all?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I’ve heard John and Ken say they have the largest listenership of any local talk radio show in America.

The winner in that category is almost certainly going to be a show on KFI, even if it isn't J&K. KFI is so much more successful in the 6+ ratings than WABC or WOR in New York, and the difference in market population between LA and the other top 10 markets is great enough that it would be hard for a host in SF or Atlanta to beat the cume for a KFI show.

 

[ILOVERADIO]

The winner in that category is almost certainly going to be a show on KFI, even if it isn't J&K. KFI is so much more successful in the 6+ ratings than WABC or WOR in New York, and the difference in market population between LA and the other top 10 markets is great enough that it would be hard for a host in SF or Atlanta to beat the cume for a KFI show.

I agree. Assuming J & K have the largest US come in talk radio, it’s still interesting they beat Handel in the morning. It will be interesting to see if Conway’s ratings at his new time will beat J & K. I don’t personally like the host time changes at KFI, but I am interested in whether Conway’s ratings are higher or lower than his predecessor and if J & K lose a lot of PM drive listeners with their earlier time.