Radio Column for April 17, 1998

KCRW's (89.9 FM) weekly program "Good Food" has a new host: Evan Kleiman, owner and executive chef of Los Angeles restaurant, Angeli Cafe, and author of numerous cookbooks including Cucina Fresca and Pasta Fresca.

Previously part of the show with a regular feature, "From the Garden to the Table," Kleiman took over host duties on March 14th. She is joined, on a rotating basis, by guest hosts Piero Selvaggio, owner of Valentino, Primi, and Posto restaurants; Leonard Schwartz, chef and owner of Maple Drive restaurant; Jonathon Gold, food journalist for L.A. Weekly; and other noted food authorities.

Good Food airs on KCRW Saturdays from 11 am to 12 noon.

Love It

Setting a personal record for shortest stint in her career, Mother Love has left the morning show at KBIG (104.3 FM). As of press time I was not able to verify why she left; the possibilities include (1) she is trying out yet another television show (Forgive or Forget), or (2) station management actually listened to her on the morning show.

Leave It

Evening hosts (7 - 9 pm) Conway and Steckler are o-u-t at KLSX (97.1 FM), replaced by former KABC (790 AM) short timer Ed Tyll. Currently, Tyll sounds a bit too much like KLSX afternoon personality Tom Leykis who precedes him, but it doesn't matter.

For the first time in the history of KLSX as a talk station, there appears to be a chance of the format working. The combination of Leykis and Tyll works, and along with some other recent moves KLSX is actually getting a "buzz," as Leykis explained last week. Leykis expects KLSX to overtake KFI's (640 AM) popularity within a year and -- while I wouldn't bet on it just yet -- I wouldn't be surprised.

In other KLSX news, Dr. Demento has returned to the station Sunday nights from 7 to 9 pm.

Adjustments

According to Radio and Records, someone broke into the transmitter building belonging to a station in South Carolina last week. Nothing was stolen; in fact the "burglar" apparently didn't touch a thing. Except for the station's "Optimod" processing unit -- the unit that adjusts the sound of the signal, making the station sound louder, and perhaps fuller.

The burglar turned the Optimod down a little bit.

Which got me thinking: do you suppose we could convince the South Carolina "adjuster" to come out to Los Angeles? There are more than a few stations that could use a little "de-processing" here. Ever listen to KXTA (1150 AM), for example? ....
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