Radio AM to FM

Radio AM to FM: November 8, 2002

American Security on the Radio

Next Thursday, November 14th at 2:00 PM, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will talk live with people from around the country when Infinity Broadcasting presents Infinity Radio Connect: American Security, airing locally on KNX (1070 AM) and KFWB (980 AM).

Rumsfeld will take calls from his office at the Pentagon, discussing terrorism and possible war with Iraq. The program will be hosted by CBS Television's 60 Minutes editor and correspondent Steve Kroft.

No explanation was given for running the program on two stations that cover essentially the same area, but listeners with stereo AM tuners in their cars or homes should go with KNX, since KFWB only broadcasts in mono.

Letterman Radio

Uncle Ricky's Reel Radio Repository (www.reelradio.com) has an old aircheck of Late Show host David Letterman on a college radio station, but that's not the only place you can find him outside of television. Fifteen radio stations across the country will start simulcasting the Late Show beginning Monday, November 11th, including local FM talker KLSX (97.1 FM) at 11:30 PM weeknights.

Not a bad idea, when you think about it. Gives people away from televisions a chance to catch Letterman's humor, and gives people a reason to actually tune in to KLSX (ooh, I'll get letters on this one) ...

The Bell Tolls

Art Bell is retiring. Again. This time due to back problems, or something like that. It apparently doesn't have anything to do with lower ratings than his "guest host," George Noory, who currently hosts Coast to Coast AM two nights a week.

Bell will continue his hectic 3-night per week schedule until his upcoming third or fourth retirement (I've lost count) December 31st when Noory takes over full time. Bell will fill in occasionally as guest host after that. Coast to Coast airs locally on KFI (640 AM) weeknights from 10 PM to 5 AM.

Mail Time

"Now that Ken is back on KABC, I tune him in. He is much better now with his new partner (Dan Avey); when he had that Peter guy (Peter Tilden), it really was awful. The things they discussed at breakfast were terrible and Peter really was obnoxious." -- Sima Geller, Torrance

I have to agree, Sima. Nothing against Peter, but putting two people together who both wanted to be the funnyman was bad. Really bad. Ken Minyard and Dan Avey together brings back memories of the great Ken and Bob Company of KABC's past, and in the long run should work quite well.

"Sad to hear about Al Lohman's passing. He came from Iowa -- Storm Lake, I believe -- and his Odebolt 500 together with Barkley was a classic." -- Roger, Pacific Palisades

"It was sad to read about Al Lohman's passing. What you left unsaid was whatever happened to his former partner, Roger Barkley?" -- Kim, Torrance

Good question. Barkley passed away in December, 1997 from cancer. His last radio job was co-host with Ken Minyard on KABC, after Lohman and Barkley split up. He died just one year after being replaced on KABC by Peter Tilden.

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