Don Barrett sent out an alert this AM that KABC's Larry Elder, a fixture at KABC for most of 20 years, was let go following his afternoon shift yesterday (Tuesday 12/2/14). A lump of coal for the holidays on a personal level, but a positive step I think for the station. KABC should also remove Mark Levin altogether too and refashion the station with some fresh talent. Mid-Day LA With Jillian Barberie & John Phillips was a good programming move. Personally, The Bryan Suits Show doesn't do it for me. Perhaps move him to 9p and bring Peter Tilden forward to mornings at 9a; or find someone (or a duo) completely new.
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Larry Elder - released from KABC yesterday (12/2/14)
- Thread starter david
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Wow, david, you sound like an angry liberal.
Interesting that in Barrett's write-up this morning, Larry's agent says ratings are "through the roof in all demos". Interesting because it is hard to believe that any KABC ratings are through any roof, and I am sure he is engaging in agent-selling spin, but there may be a kernel of truth to it. Now that John and Ken have gone soft, I have found myself flipping up the dial to hear what Larry has to say more often than I used to. I would bet many others have done the same thing. While Larry is still heavy into the national issues, particularly as they pertain to race, he at least still brings a point of view that hasn't (for the most part) been watered down by the suits and he seems to bring more passion to the show than he has before (his morning shows when he first came back to KABC bordered on terrible). But he has saved KABC's bacon several times through the years and is still the most prominent personality on the station; one would think he would have been shown the door a bit more gracefully.
As for the timing, well, all you have to do is look at the schedule. The LA Kings schedule that is. Between today and December 16, five of the next ten afternoon drive shows will be pre-empted by Kings hockey. Guess they can't afford to pay Larry and the Kings at the same time.
As for the timing, well, all you have to do is look at the schedule. The LA Kings schedule that is. Between today and December 16, five of the next ten afternoon drive shows will be pre-empted by Kings hockey. Guess they can't afford to pay Larry and the Kings at the same time.
"Wow, david, you sound like an angry liberal."
Why is that? Because he doesn't sound like an angry conservative? Seriously, take a look at the market KABC is in; Los Angeles. Conservative talk radio has been on the decline nationwide for the past couple of years. Why would you think it would still be a viable option here in in the biggest city in the bluest state of the union? To me, KABC is just cutting conservative bait and heading to where the fish are, namely people who enjoy talk radio but don't necessarily want to hear 24-hours of Obama bashing.
It's not a political decision, just a business decision.
Why is that? Because he doesn't sound like an angry conservative? Seriously, take a look at the market KABC is in; Los Angeles. Conservative talk radio has been on the decline nationwide for the past couple of years. Why would you think it would still be a viable option here in in the biggest city in the bluest state of the union? To me, KABC is just cutting conservative bait and heading to where the fish are, namely people who enjoy talk radio but don't necessarily want to hear 24-hours of Obama bashing.
It's not a political decision, just a business decision.
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Thomps2525
Guest
KABC fired Larry Elder because people are tired of "Obama bashing"? Is that why KFI dropped Rush Limbaugh? No, that can't be it---it's just a coincidence.
So Larry Elder has been fired after 18 years at KABC. Merry Christmas from Cumulus Broadcasting. Here is what I wrote for a radio fanzine:
Longtime KABC afternoon host Larry Elder, known as "The Sage from South Central," was fired following his shift on December 2. Elder, who describes himself as "politically conservative and socially liberal," was born in 1952 in Los Angeles, graduated from Crenshaw High School, earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Brown University, and received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan in 1977. For three years he worked in Cleveland as a commercial trial lawyer, then founded his own company, Laurence A. Elder & Associates. For six years Elder hosted a talk show on Cleveland's PBS affiliate WVIZ-Channel 25. The Larry Elder Show then moved to FOX affiliate WOIO-Channel 19 and ended in 1994 when Elder returned to Los Angeles to begin hosting afternoons at KABC. Elder's program was syndicated nationally by ABC Radio Network from 2002 to 2007. He also hosted a syndicated television version from 2004 to 2005 and often acted as substitute host for Geraldo Rivera on CNBC's Rivera Live program. Elder left KABC in December 2008 and launched a daily live podcast. He returned to KABC in September 2010 as 9-to-noon host but was soon back in his regular afternoon slot. Despite his high ratings, Elder was fired on December 2, 2014, presumably because of KABC's contract to broadcast Los Angeles Kings hockey. Elder's show would often be pre-empted by games taking place in eastern locations. Elder has written four books, including The Ten Things You Can't Say In America and What's Race Got To Do With It? Why It's Time To Stop The Stupidest Argument In America. Elder is one of thirty entertainers who will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. He is the only one in the radio category.
So Larry Elder has been fired after 18 years at KABC. Merry Christmas from Cumulus Broadcasting. Here is what I wrote for a radio fanzine:
Longtime KABC afternoon host Larry Elder, known as "The Sage from South Central," was fired following his shift on December 2. Elder, who describes himself as "politically conservative and socially liberal," was born in 1952 in Los Angeles, graduated from Crenshaw High School, earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Brown University, and received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan in 1977. For three years he worked in Cleveland as a commercial trial lawyer, then founded his own company, Laurence A. Elder & Associates. For six years Elder hosted a talk show on Cleveland's PBS affiliate WVIZ-Channel 25. The Larry Elder Show then moved to FOX affiliate WOIO-Channel 19 and ended in 1994 when Elder returned to Los Angeles to begin hosting afternoons at KABC. Elder's program was syndicated nationally by ABC Radio Network from 2002 to 2007. He also hosted a syndicated television version from 2004 to 2005 and often acted as substitute host for Geraldo Rivera on CNBC's Rivera Live program. Elder left KABC in December 2008 and launched a daily live podcast. He returned to KABC in September 2010 as 9-to-noon host but was soon back in his regular afternoon slot. Despite his high ratings, Elder was fired on December 2, 2014, presumably because of KABC's contract to broadcast Los Angeles Kings hockey. Elder's show would often be pre-empted by games taking place in eastern locations. Elder has written four books, including The Ten Things You Can't Say In America and What's Race Got To Do With It? Why It's Time To Stop The Stupidest Argument In America. Elder is one of thirty entertainers who will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015. He is the only one in the radio category.
Actually, "Obama Bashing" has never been more popular. The last bash was on November 4th and it was quite the doosie.
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Thomps2525
Guest
I quit listening to Rush Limbaugh two years ago. The daily anti-Obama diatribes were really getting old. I agreed with most of them...but I didn't want to hear them every day.
I'm hearing that Larry Elder was fired because KABC did not want to pay him on days when his program would be pre-empted by Kings hockey. Couldn't Elder have simply agreed to forego his pay on those occasions?
I'm hearing that Larry Elder was fired because KABC did not want to pay him on days when his program would be pre-empted by Kings hockey. Couldn't Elder have simply agreed to forego his pay on those occasions?
It depends. Sometimes a contract is written in such a way that you can't. Sometimes the ego is too big to deal with reality. If his agent is telling him that he's the most popular host on the station, then you feel you have a bargaining position. But the fact that this station isn't what it once was, and sometimes it's best to cut from the past and move on to the future.
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Thomps2525
Guest
I'm fantasizing that KFI will hire Larry Elder to work evenings and we'd never again have to hear that idiotic "What Did Jesse Jackson Say" nonsense...but I don't foresee KFI getting rid of Tim Conway Jr. How about hiring Elder and moving Conway into late nights, replacing George Noory? We'd no longer be able to listen to people insisting they saw a real honest-to-goodness UFO and talked to the little green men but that would be a small price to pay in order to have Larry Elder on KFI.
Either David E. is slipping up or is on vacation. Normally by now he would have chimed in that the timing probably has more to do with the fact that he was terminated at the very end of the November book so that KABC can get a full November book of his "ratings through the roof" and that his absence in the December book would be meaningless since most buyers ignore the December/Holiday book as not representative of normal listening pasterns. I can't keep teeing them up for you like this David.
I can't see any evidence of anything going through the roof over at KABC unless it is the sound of ratings crashing through the ceiling onto the floor.
The whole station has lower ratings than the now-moved-to-FM format from KHJ. It's not salable, and expensive to produce. When a station where it does not snow carries hockey, you know that things are desparate.
KFI won't likely bump anyone to make room, for Larry Elder. Their current "live and local" format is working just fine. Elder's format and target audience would fit perfectly on sister station KEIB following Sean Hannity - Iheart media might even want to syndicate it. Move Dave Ramsey to the slot after Clark Howard and Carlos Amescua to KFI - then give Elder 3-7 on KEIB.
Why do his? KEIB's ratings, already improving, will likely go up further - especially if hyped on Iheart's billboard network. Meanwhile Carlos could complement David Cruz as an investigative reporter on KFI giving even greater continuity to all six "live and local" programs from Hoffman to Conway. Amezcua could also be a back-up host for any of the six.
KABC has sold its transmitter site and will likely have a weaker footprint - apparently Cumulus needs the cash more than a good signal. KFI and KEIB aren't moving their transmitters anywhere.When the Kings contract with KABC runs out perhaps iHeart's KLAC, now partly owned by the Dodgers, will welcome them if they can't get the Clippers or Lakers.
Why do his? KEIB's ratings, already improving, will likely go up further - especially if hyped on Iheart's billboard network. Meanwhile Carlos could complement David Cruz as an investigative reporter on KFI giving even greater continuity to all six "live and local" programs from Hoffman to Conway. Amezcua could also be a back-up host for any of the six.
KABC has sold its transmitter site and will likely have a weaker footprint - apparently Cumulus needs the cash more than a good signal. KFI and KEIB aren't moving their transmitters anywhere.When the Kings contract with KABC runs out perhaps iHeart's KLAC, now partly owned by the Dodgers, will welcome them if they can't get the Clippers or Lakers.
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Of course, they don't have a good signal from the current site, so it will likely just get worse... like KHJ.
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Thomps2525
Guest
Art, I agree that Larry Elder would be a good fit on KEIB. If that happens, I hope he follows the lead of John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou and focuses on local issues. He's "the Sage from South Central," not "the Sage of the entire United States."
Joe Crummey is now doing afternoons on KABC...but for how long? Joe worked at KABC from 1997 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2004. Will he be the permanent replacement for Larry Elder? Joe has also worked at KFI, KMPC, KFYI-Phoenix and WABC-New York.
Joe Crummey is now doing afternoons on KABC...but for how long? Joe worked at KABC from 1997 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2004. Will he be the permanent replacement for Larry Elder? Joe has also worked at KFI, KMPC, KFYI-Phoenix and WABC-New York.
Right now, KEIB can't afford him.
Joe Crummey is another talent KFI could use as a consumer affairs reporter for their live and local format - but unfortunately you need the revenue and audience to hire everyone you might like. Last time I heard of Crummey he was doing a program for a station in Phoenix from Los Angeles.
Again? How many times is that guy gonna say his last farewells at that station? It sure is a revolving door of "talent" at KABC. Their lineup seems to change every six months.
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