PAUL HARVEY TO BE REPLACED BY HUCKABEE?

[MikeShannon914]

WBAP is airing promos that Mike Huckabee will be taking the weekday morning 7:30 slot starting January 5. That was Paul's slot for as far back as I can remember (including back to the 1960s at KRLD.) No idea if Paul's discontinuing the early morning report or what, but talk about the end of an era. Per the website, Paul's late morning and evening reports will continue. According to ABCRN's website, Hucky's show will be a "short form radio news feature," so I'd count on a 5 min report a la Paul.

 

[noozflash]

I wonder if Ron Chapman might still be in the running as a long-term replacement, though. I've caught him subbing for Harvey on several occasions, and despite not having the standard news background, he seems to bring it off pretty well. I'd rather see Chapman take on the role because he doesn't have Huckabee's political baggage.

 

[RadioBrat78]

If memory serves me, that slot is reported by Paul JR., not the great man himself. Doubt that WBAP would drop an icon. Just me.

 

[copydesk2]

You're right, and Paul Jr. has an entirely different kind of show. Feature stuff.

 

[spinderella]

You're right, and Paul Jr. has an entirely different kind of show. Feature stuff.

I think I suggested on another thread that if Paul Sr. isn't going to do the early report and relegate it to Paul Jr's UFO, bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster updates that it was time for the franchise to be poop-canned. Paul Jr. is nutso about the paranormal crap and it just doesn't do his daddy justice.

Huckabee should be a solid replacement. Better than Paul Jr. and the rotating cast of Ron Chapman and others.

 

[EbolaMonkey]

I wonder if Ron Chapman might still be in the running as a long-term replacement, though. I've caught him subbing for Harvey on several occasions, and despite not having the standard news background, he seems to bring it off pretty well.

What has Paul Harvey ever done that required a "news background"? He's a story teller more than anything.

 

[Media Mogul]

When I talked to Huckabee about two weeks ago he told me that he was not being really the replacement for Paul Harvey, but just offering an additional program from ABC that was a fast paced (with no disrespect to PH) younger take on the news. So that is certainly not ABC's mission in putting him on, but I could see that when he finally retired, that would be a show just ready to go.

 

[DJ2PR]

At the risk of this becoming a post with a political bent, Huckster's "aw shucks slap-schtick" commentary on most newsy stories is refreshing on his show, or specifically when he is doing the Comedy Central circuit. But a little of that goes a loooooong way when running for president. Maybe he would get a little more street cred going after the younger voter by not replacing an icon in the radio industry most listened to in the 84 - hospice demo. IJS.