[Speed Gibson,
Saturday March 10, 2007 at 6:40am]
Morning Radio
The collapse of the KTLK morning show is complete, with Andrew Colton leaving, to be replaced by John Hines starting March 19. My smattering of regular readers may remember the reviews of Twin Cities morning radio in which I found a modest preference for this new station's first attempt.
I liked it, or at least preferred it, but the ratings rule. Kelly Guest was released last year, along with callers and any serious discussion of topics beyond 90 seconds. Traffic and weather breaks increased. It's now a frenetic chase like WCCO-AM. This is such a shame, because Guest and Colton together were probably the smartest duo.
I hear Hines fill in for Colton last month, and he did a decent job with the format's limitation. I keep wishing for a more calm experience, like Bill Bennett, but I also want it to be a local show.
I'll set my Pogo recorder to begin taping Mr. Hines, and see where he fits among the other offerings.
I liked it, or at least preferred it, but the ratings rule. Kelly Guest was released last year, along with callers and any serious discussion of topics beyond 90 seconds. Traffic and weather breaks increased. It's now a frenetic chase like WCCO-AM. This is such a shame, because Guest and Colton together were probably the smartest duo.
I hear Hines fill in for Colton last month, and he did a decent job with the format's limitation. I keep wishing for a more calm experience, like Bill Bennett, but I also want it to be a local show.
I'll set my Pogo recorder to begin taping Mr. Hines, and see where he fits among the other offerings.
I listened to Colton a few times after Guest's departure; it was dreadful, so I can understand him or the station wanting to end it.
I liked the show when it first came on, but at some point there was a clear shift from discussing serious issues to the less-serious ones, finally ending with all the happy banter for Colton's wedding.
I smell a "professional radio consultant" at work here.