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Al Gardner gone from IQ?

Thanks for the confirmation. I am shocked that I cannot find any news on this subject on the Internet (outside of a post on another site asking the same question I was). As a fan of the similar former WPHT and the current IQ lineups, I hope that the format stays the same. I feel bad for Gardner as he seemed like a nice guy and apparently he moved back to Philly from a regular gig down south. Good luck to him.
 
I cannot forgive this guy (Randy) after he screwed up WGN radio in Chicago. It seems that he has a trend at each of his stations, changing their evermore popular formats and messing with them for a few months.

While Lionel is an okay host, bringing in your NY talent to host in another city just doesn't work in my opinion. Randy needs to remember that he is trying to compete with WPHT, and has to have good, solid LOCAL talent in order to provide excellent ratings for his listeners.

With CBS hiring another non-Philly host to do afternoons for WPHT, having IQ build up a local lineup would make more sense than their current national lineup. While Rush and Hannity will always provide solid ratings for a station, local programming would provide something more for the listeners.
 
I thought Al was great with Lionel. He will be missed. I think the whole crew knows the writing is on the wall. Too bad, they're all talented but the show has always lacked some direction. That said, Al was enjoyable from day one and I'm glad I got to hear him do the news for the past year. Good luck Al!
 
I can't figure out why you think IQ 106.9 is in trouble. It is WPHT that is in trouble. As for changes in the morning, IQ has shares in the mid threes middays and afternoons, a 7 at night, and a 1 in the morning. Why wouldn't you expect changes?
 
And if you heard Dick Morris's audition, you know that isn't going to help. If he really does the show from Philly lock up your women. Perhaps he can review local strip clubs and hookers to spice up the show. That is Dick's real expertise.
 
Christinemillertime said:
Yep, he's gone.

So Philly's Morning News is now hosted by two New Yorkers.

Supposedly the station is for sale. Whoever buys it is expected to keep it's current format seeing as the ratings are strong, but that's why the current owners haven't bothered to fix the morning show. Lionel is friends with the current owner, so he'll fire Mendte, Gardner, but not Lionel
Click to expand...

Murillo is not a New Yorker...Merlin recruited her from Orlando Florida in late 2011. Originally from Melbourne, FL area.
 
In the January PPM, IQ has a 2.5 overall rating. There are 15 Philadelphia radio station that have higher ratings. True, WPHT, at a 1.8, isn't one of them. But IQ is NOT only competing with PHT. It's competing with all the other Philly radio stations too, in terms of advertising revenue.
In All Access' review of the money demos, IQ is not rating highly in any of the money demos.

The Philly PPM monthly for February comes out this Monday, March 18, at 5 pm. We'll see then how IQ is doing.
 
I'm sure that the person who used to work at IQis Larry Mendte. Who even edited the Wiki page to say that the station is being sold.
Since he was fired months ago, and with an obvious axe to grind, I wouldn't necessarily buy what he is selling.
Although Lionel and Michelle Murillo are weak without Al Gardner. Gardner was the obvious broadcaster and Philadelphian.
You've got to wonder what happened.
 
Is Al Gardner the brother of Bill Gardner the long-time morning guy on Phoenix's KOOL-FM?

Another station here in Phoenix (KSLX IIRC) used to air a Beatles program hosted by Al and it ruffled Bill's feathers that his station wouldn't pick it up.
 
Al's brother is WMGK's Andre Gardner (Breakfast with the Beatles host).

I agree with an earlier post that I hope they do not change the Beck/Rush/Hannity/Levin lineup. I appreciate local talk shows but also think Philly needs a home for these great national shows. I love the fact that IQ uses Fox News and not for political reasons (cause Fox News headlines are basically down the middle), but I think it is better than ABC, SNR or even CBS. (Plus, the song is much better too; although I do like CBS's sign-on as well). Let 1210 build a local lineup for more options and whose to say that there is not room for a third talk station in town. While I am aware that you can catch the national shows almost anywhere (Internet, app, iTunes, Sirius), it is nice to turn on a simple radio and instantly hear them.

So, while I am not a radio insider and have no knowledge of any rumored sale, if IQ is sold, I hope the national shows stay. I would suggest some improvement in the morning show.
 
I would not be surprised if clear channel in the future was to flip mix 106.1 to rush radio

you can hear 106.1 all over the place 106.9 is spotty in some places
 
radioinactive said:
Al is both Bill's & Andre's brother. Although well known in Phoenix at KOOL, Bill was on WIBG in Philly many years ago.
Click to expand...

Ah, now I remember. Bill used to talk about Andre and his Beatles show.

Sad day when KOOL fired Bill. :mad:
 
crossmymind said:
What does everyone think of Lionel and Michelle Murillo together?
Click to expand...

There might be a little more potential with a pairing of Michelle Murillo and Michelle Jerson...
 
landtuna said:
radioinactive said:
Al is both Bill's & Andre's brother. Although well known in Phoenix at KOOL, Bill was on WIBG in Philly many years ago.
Click to expand...

Ah, now I remember. Bill used to talk about Andre and his Beatles show.

Sad day when KOOL fired Bill. :mad:
Click to expand...
Bill Gardner worked at several versions of WIBG in the 1970's - a good top 40 personality. I think he also worked at a country station in maybe North Carolina for a time before going to Phoenix? Andre Gardner had some national 'recognition' for a time when he went from WYSP to WXRK New York, and ended up with the job of 'pushing the button' to cut things from the Howard Stern Show, and also being challenged on that show about his Beatles knowledge, once competing with Ringo Starr on a Beatles trivia contest (Andre won being more 'into' the trivia). Both had successful runs in Philadelphia. I admit I never heard brother Al on the air.
 
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