Radio AM to FM

Radio AM to FM: May 10, 2002

We Get Letters ...

It's been a long time time since I answered the mailbag; some of these questions go so far back I'm afraid to say when they arrived. So, let's get right to it.

Q: Any idea as to where Dr. Toni Grant is broadcasting? Last I heard she was moving to Texas; I have heard nothing since. I would greatly appreciate any help with locating her. I'm an avid listener. -- Michelle Bilodeau, San Pedro

A: She's nowhere, right now. Rumor has it that she will soon give syndication another try. Stay tuned.

Q: One of my favorite DJs on KBIG was Janine Wolf. What happened to her? And why does KBIG make so many changes? It seems to me to keep a regular listening audience, you need to keep a regular lineup. -- Tom Gazzillo, via the web

A: A quick check at Don Barrett's laradio.com reveals that Wolf left KBIG in Fall 2001, but apparently is not on the air anywhere locally. As to why KBIG changes so often, that's a good question. My personal opinion is that KBIG's owner, Clear Channel, makes such changes so that listeners don't get too used to personalities, which in turn prevents them from asking for "too much" money.

Q: Say, I really liked listening to Suze Orman on KFI. All of a sudden, she's gone. What happened, where did she go and is she on another station? Please can you help and does she have a web site? -- Dale, via the web

A: According to the KLAC web site, Suze's show is heard on KLAC from 1 to 3 pm weekdays. Her web site is www.suzeorman.com.

Q: I am curious why no public radio station ever emerges from obscurity in the ratings. Are the Arbitrons only for commercial stations, or is it a fact that KPCC, KCRW, KPFK, KLON, KUSC and KCSN have so divided the "intelligent" audience that none of them ever makes the pale of minimally competitive ratings? -- Thomas P. Hunt, via the web

A: Everyone knows that the intelligent audience listens to weekend infomercials on the talk stations. Seriously, the reason public stations don't show in the lists printed in newspapers such as the Daily Breeze is that they don't subscribe to Arbitron. Arbitron does rate them, but includes them in lists that generally aren't made available to the public. For comparison, by the way, last I heard the top public station (which will remain nameless because I can't recall which it was) had a rating of about 1.5.

Q: Where is Judd Mcllvain these days? -- Craig Campbell, via the web

A: So you're the one who listens to him ... this is an easy one: On KRLA, Saturdays from 2 to 3 pm.

Q: Did you know that the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills has a program that lets kids take part in recreations of old time radio shows? -- David, Culver City

A: I did not, but found the following information: Re-Creating Radio is a two-hour workshop where children ages 9-14 produce an old-time radio drama using scripts, sound effects and music. The workshop takes participants through the many stages of radio production; the performance is recorded and each participant receives a an audiocassette following the workshop.

This season's workshops run Saturdays through June 15th, enrollment is limited to 20 people per workshop, and tickets ($5) must be purchased ahead in advance of the workshop. Call (310) 786-1014 for more information.

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