Radio Daze

Brian Lambert reports on a number of shakeups at local radio stations.

MPR and NPR are playing musical chairs with a their air talent - in a move whose main impact would seem to sideline the lovely Lorna Benson, MPR will be handing the local hosting of "All Things Considered" to David Molpus.

However, as usual, the real news is on the commercial band, as KSTP-AM's morning show goes through more contortions:

"Elsewhere, KSTP-AM 1500 announced a makeover of its weekday lineup. Gone from the station's heavily conservative talk format is John Wodele, formerly communications director for Gov. Jesse Ventura.

Wodele was hired only six months ago. His 5-to-8 a.m. spot will be taken by Bob Davis, who moves to mornings from KSTP's 10 p.m.-to-midnight slot.

Unmentioned by Lambert: Wodele was awful. Absolutely unlistenable. Twin Cities radio observers felt the station should have given Wodele his severance pay in advance, without actually airing the show - it would have saved the station a lot of ratings grief.

Davis in the morning? Hmmm. I rarely listen to Davis. But Davis' manic streak might be just what the station needs in the morning; not since the early days of Barbara Carlson's morning trainwreck (the first one, not the endless parade of interchangeable voices that accompanied the interminable "Morning Spin" since the mid-nineties) has the station had a morning show that was memorable, much less worth tuning on the radio for.

Syndicated talker and Fox News TV host Sean Hannity has been picked up to fill Davis' time slot.

In other words, for one hour every evening, local talk radio listeners will be able to choose between the bilious Michael Savage and the tedious Hannity.

Wodele's co-host, Mark O'Connell, moves to the 8-to-11 a.m. slot to become full-time co-host with noted St. Paul attorney Ron Rosenbaum.

This is a move that puzzles me. O'Connell is a decent utility player, but not marquee material; his personality doesn't jump through the radio at you. Rosenbaum is an affable enough guy, but I think he'd work better in a supporting role behind...well, a Bob Davis type (but not Davis - I don't think the personalities would mesh very well, although I've been wrong before.

Let's discuss this in six months. I bet the spring book will see yet another shakeup at AM1500.

UPDATE: The Fraters dance, Riverdance-style, on Wodele's radio grave, in a very apt and capable critique.

Posted by Mitch at July 26, 2003 03:36 PM