BREAKING: KVI to KIRO "Look out, there's a new hometown talk station knocking at your door!"

KVI PD Dennis Kelly fired a shot across the KIRO bow with the much-heralded reorganization and a localizing of the heritage talker's line up.

The changes will be announced at 7:15 a today on the Kirby Wilbur Show (m-f, 5-9a) and the new skedge will begin Tues., Sept. 5, and could spin off some programming into television as well.

Biggest news is The Commentators with John Carlson and Ken Schram will move to the 9-ta-noon slot, morphing into a regular talk show format with listener calls. (It's been on sister newser's KOMOAM with the hosts arguing with each other and guests, but taking no calls).

The weak Sean Hannity Show will continue live in his noon to 3p slot, hoping to get a bump by The Commentators (affectionately known by BlatherWatchers as The Taters) who are hoping to get a bump from the ever-popular Kirby Wilbur Show.

The afternoon drive will be commandeered by Bryan "Rooty-Toot" Suits in a new show called the Bryan Suits Experience, which, Kelly says, will get some "transforming," presumably into something listenable. A little transformation would be good- we've reported lately that the Bad Lieutenant hasn't been enjoying good tidings in the important Adults 25-54 demo lately, but Kelly points out that he's had "tremendous growth" and is high with Men 35-64. (Maybe Suits can get the bump from Hannity who got a bump from The 'Tators who got a bump from Kirby. Fortunately, Kirby's a big man who might be able to hold the whole damn thing up).

On tape from 6 to 8p will be Mark Levin, known as "The Great One" to small children and "little people" all over the country. Relatively new in syndication, KVI will be his 43rd station. For those who have never heard him, he's a squeaky, yet snide little attorney whose nasty mouth as been gracing Fox TV talk shows for years. Sure, he was chief of staff to former Attorney General Edwin Meese, but the weasel-tongued lawyer's greatest professional achievement was befriending Sean Hannity who lubed up his media career and we don't wanna know what else. He's a male Ann Coulter, with a similar tongue but a bigger bra size.

Carlson will do a conservative commentary on KOMO radio at 7a and 5p. He and Schram will appear weekdaily on KOMO's News At Noon to square off. Kelly hints: "Eventually, don't be surprised to see The Commentators become a regular on KOMO 4 News TV, too.

Kelly spares no insults to the competition, which, essentially, is Entercom's KIRO and KTTH.

"Dave Ross has become too partisan since his run for Congress abandoning his "common sense crusader" approach. Rush Limbaugh has been troubled by recent personal character challenges (the Viagra sexual tourism episode) and has a penchant in recent years for mailing-it-in."

Although Kelly compares The Tators to Fox News Hannity & Colmes- Schram is no timid Colmes- he's a maverick, and no doctrinaire liberal. The Bronx native is what we call a "fuck-you liberal," progressive enough on the big stuff- the war, abortion, gay issues, and the idiot presidency; but he's libertarian and unpredictable on many- especially local- issues. His vociferous commentaries on KOMO 4 News have been sticking it in the ears of both rightists and lefties for years.

Carlson is a partisan Republican with years of experience in talk broadcasting and realpolitiks- he ran a quixotic race for governor in 2000. He's a capable and experienced debater; on KVI doing talk radio since 1992, and before that 7 years of TV debate on KIRO TV with lefty Walt Crowley back in the '80's and early '90's.

Kelly compares Lieut. 'Rooty-Toot' Suits to Billo Reilly, which may not get much traction in these parts;  but, he says, "Bryan has one of the most wicked wits in talk radio. His marvelous stream of consciousness humor on the day's subject matter is what makes his show unique." Jesus.

He really goes after KIRO's Ron & Don Show: "Unlike Bryan's new PM drive competitors, he's not fixated on discussions about "chicks and beer" or pretending to be sophisticated despite a booger talk background." (We would say that Bryan is no stranger to fixations on discussions- his on armaments, calibers and military braggadacio, BVDs, and SROs, and DPDs).

We're southpaws around here, so we'll always be delightfully negative and hilariously cynical about conservative talkers. But we're also for live and local; and talk radio that elevates the conversation.

KVI hasn't been as local as we'd like it to be, but we think these are some steps in the right (npi) direction. The Taters could be the beginning of something really interesting; and we're willing to wait and see if Bryan Suits can transform his show into something that might appeal to those of us who haven't killed anybody with a rifle.

We hope Sean Hannity, on the other hand, contracts terminal seboriasis and Mark Levin is caught in a drug bust with some hookers at Rush Limbaugh's beach house.

Comments

[spambutcher]

"Dave Ross has become too partisan"

100% agree. One of the things I liked about Dave is that he could facilitate discussion and offer commentary without slanting the entire show one direction or the other.

Now that he's showing his cards - it's apparent he's a nanny-state liberal - which isn't my cup of tea. It's still decent radio - just not what it once was.

Glad to hear the Tater's are coming on earlier - that will put them in my daily schedule.

[Tommy008]

"The Bryan Suits Experience"?- lipstick on a pig.... deckchair rearrangement on The Titanic... keeping Suits instead of going for Larry Elder live is a small-minded programming decision by a provincial, bumpkin P.D.

[Tommy008]

Why can't "he who must be obeyed?" control freak Rootin' Tootin' Suits address his little military clique from 3-5 a.m. instead of making Ivy League graduate Larry Elder languish there? T'aint fair. and Suits' "humor" tain't funny, McGee.

[Tommy008]

Why can't "he who must be obeyed" control freak Rootin' Tootin' Suits address his little military clique from 3-5 a.m. instead of making Ivy League graduate Larry Elder languish there? T'aint fair. and Suits' "humor" tain't funny, McGee.

[sclub]

Why reward Suits for a bad performance?

[Scrilla]

Yeah! Why?!
Right on Sclub!!

[Scrilla]

...but then again, there IS something of a war on.

[sam]

kvi is on self destruct. suits? he's already screwed up PM drive. he got worse numbers than the 2 idiots on KIRO. had some really high hopes, here.

[lara]

I guess we (our all-girl carpool to a Everett) will stay on our diet of Al Franken and NPR in the afternoons. Wish the comm-ntators were in the afternoon. Not much for the girls here with Brian.

[Tommy008]

The Bryan Suits Pledge - I (your name here) solemnly swear that I will not hike with, camp with, hoist beers with , go to Outback Steakhouse or participating Red Lobster's with, date, marry, shoot the shit with, or shop at Walmart with any individual who is not a sworn police officer or an active duty member of the military(retired military personnel may be granted exemptions on a case by case basis)

[sparky]

"Dave Ross has become too partisan since his run for Congress abandoning his "common sense crusader" approach.

..and the right wing talkers ARENT partisan.

yeah right.

[Duffman]

Almost guessed them all...Oh Well, may be Styble in p.m. drive time would suit you'all better than Suits?

[Seabeck]

As long as the 3pm show is not called the "Bryan Suits Nation."

I've missed the 'Tators. I'm looking forward to their show. Rush was talking about some "Tribe" thing the other day. I couldn't follow. I think he's losing it.

[sig]

Suits, what a dud. He does Letterman doing Bob Newhart doing your Uncle Fud. What a bore. What's he gonna do to transform himself- get a breast transplant?

[Caleb]

Mike Webb would not be on KVI. It is a facsist, racist, homophic station. If they think Schram is a "progressive" I've got a bridge they can buy. Real progressive talk radio is dead in this town.

[duane]

Good moves, KVI--except I still like Rush--what am I going to do now?

[John]

Fuck me, now I can't argue with Carlson while I drive home from work. Suits is a fucking idiot.

[Sarge & Jill]

Maybe it's a cross the board industry conspiracy to dumb down the afternoon drive. Maybe they are after a new demo- stupid people...oh that's right, they already have that demo, that's why Suits has a job. He is Ron and Don with a vocabulary.

[Saggy Baggy]

You don't know shit about radio, Mike, but thanks for this site. considering there is no competition your the best.

[joanie]

KVI? They still around?

[Reality Check]

What's the point of all the swearing?
and you can haul out the knee-jerk leftwing "racist, facsist, homophobic" labels, but unfortunately for you it doesn't make them true.

[sparky]

uh, Saggy...that should be "you're."

Thank you

[max]

Suits is one of the only fresh voices in radio. Calrson and Wilbur as well as their counterparts on KTTh are too partisan to listen to for too long, though Sitman And bose are at least entertaining.

I will tune into Suits any day of hte week he is on.

[Proregressive]

I like Suits' show too. I guess I get the Army jargon and his sense of humor moreso than most of the posters here, but then again I'm a middle-aged conservative white guy. From the ads that KVI runs, I'm guessing that I'm their target audience.

I can't see Carlson/Schram pulling enough listeners away from Limbaugh to make a dent, but hey it's gotta be better than Brian & The Judge.

[David Tatelman]

Gawd, people actually listen to those stations?

[laura riker]

Suits almost died over there, we must now have a moment of silence for him.

[Vince Sauber]

I couldn't believe the listeners wigging out this morning calling into Kirby Wilbur's show. They HATE Ken Schram, which I think speaks to his effectiveness. I can't wait. The taters were lacking something by not taking callers. I'm glad they're fixing that. Way to go KVI - Good Move.

[Stephen Schwartz]

Can you spell Mike Webb on KVI!

Wouldn't that be awesome? If all KVI does is run fauxistic newsntalk, they won;t do all that well. BUT, some leftish admixture, esp. of the outrageous typw, could relly spark things ..esp. given the Rum and Dumb attitude at KIRO.

[cinco]

Can you spell disgraced, or finished? that's what mike webb is.

[KS]

Mike Webb is washed up in this area. He has the emotional maturity of a four-year old.

With that said, I like Ken Schram and think that he reflects a more mainstream view in a number of areas (some areas he is just wrong - like gun control), so that the station can be taken more seriously and not branded as a station only for rightwingnuts by locals. Probably a good move for KVI - Kirby is good/ a bit far right about a number of things. Suits is creative but not very dynamic on the whole. Compared to KIRO, looks they have the upper hand in a so-so market for talk shows.

[ray]

Mike Webb is pro gun, we need him in our quest to eliminate the scourge of republicanism from our nation.

[KS]

Lighten up - you are coming across like a sicko.

[Oly]

Speaking of transformations, if KVI ever made Webb an offer, he'd transform himself into Pat Buchanan Junior in half a heartbeat. He talks a good game about representing the downtrodden and battling injustice and so forth, but the guy is as supremely unprincipled as anybody when he steps out of the studio and into the sunlight. By the time he crosses the parking lot to his Lexus, he's just another well-heeled dirtbag.

[DJ Allyn]

Nothing KVI could do to stop me listening to Thom Hartmann in the morning. Arguably the best talk show on radio today.

AM1090 needs to get its act together also, by providing at least ONE local drive show -- preferably replacing the already delayed Al Franken show. Stephanie Miller is great for the morning drive, she at least puts you in a good mood for the day.

I stopped listening to Kirby years ago, and Carlson just irritates me. If it wasn't for my XM Radio and Old Time Radio for the afternoon drive, I would simply fall asleep in the stalled traffic on I-5.

[sparky]

I think Bubba should go...when Al files to run for Senate, they will be replacing him anyway. Carry Randi live at noon-3, then afternoon drive could be local...

[KS]

Reality is somewhere in between Air America and KVI/KTTH - one of them is actually closer to it.
A steady diet of AA puts you out there in lala land - boys and girls.

However, a combination of Air America and Coast to Coast will get you all caught up on conspiracy theories laced with black helicopters, etc.

[Tommy008]

Nobody's mention KVI's "coup" in wresting The Great One away from the unnamed competing station they claim was vying for him. This Levin guy is a pompous fatass, and an abrasive , bloviating lawyer who insults callers by saying "get off the pgone, you big dope!" among other things.He's good for laughs and perverse entertainment. I've heard a little of his show on WABC- at the time he was having a feud with Michael Savage because Savage dared to make fun of and criticize Rush and Hannity. This guy's a buffoon , but an entertaining one.

[stodge charger]

What will a steady diet of KKKVI and Rush do, give you the shits?

[max]

I like Shcrambo, because you nevewr know where he is coming from on issues, he is too diverse. It makes a great counter to the predictable Right wing Carlson. The Taters are a great team, and to be able to call in will be nice

[Tommy008]

Rush Limbaugh is a clever montebank and carnival barker who mesmerizes his "dittoheads" with his political demogoguery and a big gasbag balloon cult of personality image he has created of "The Great Man". When someone like Walter Williams subs for him today and brings on a Democrat guest who has written a good book, you feel like you're listening to a host is a real person, not some undereducated college dropout poser like Rush, who is frightened to have real guests on his show , because they will show him up and pinprick the gas balloon by sounding obviously smarter and better educated than him.

[joanie]

Tommy, who was the author?

[joanie]

What will a steady diet of KKKVI and Rush do, give you the shits?

It will give you a fatal case of ignorance.

[Tommy008]

the author was Juan Williams, promoting his new book- "Enough"

[stodge charger]

Indeed! Rush' audience must be made up of the 25% that John Dean stated recently who are willing to "go over the cliff" with the neo-cons.

[Jeast]

KTPK= Ron Reagan 12-3 or
KTPK= Mike Malloy 12-3*

*Mike Malloy would have to clean up his verbals but he could rile up the 12-3 or the 3-6 in the afternoon. His recent promo: Bush is a RAT BASTARD!! LOL

[Jeast]

Insannity Hannity WILL go over the cliffs with the Neocons...he spreading terror and fear if the Dems take over in Nov 06 that CONservative talk shows will be no more............we only could hope and pray, but everyone has an oPINEion, unfortunately progressives are way out numbered in radio land........Oh I listen to Ron Reagan for 1 hour, he needs 3, probably will take Dave Ross's slot when he goes in 08 possibly

[joanie]

Jeast, leave Mike where he is! I love the over-the-top butchering of this administration. He does it the best. "The Bush Crime Family" is becoming part of the vernacular! I love it!

[joanie]

Tommy, I really like Juan Williams and he was interviewed last week by Michael Eric Dyson who tried by force of will to refute Williams thesis. Dyson does not know when to shut up. It was a good interview and Juan held his own.

However, Juan is not a far left kind of guy. His premise in that book probably validated a lot of what republicans have been saying all along. Some truth in it for sure!

Jeast, I wouldn't mind having Mike move up to 9 pm. I usually listen to him online starting at 7 pm.

[stodge charger]

Don't forget, Bill Maher re-appears on HBO tonite

[sparky]

Yayyy for Bill Maher...got the beer chillin' in the fridge, steak pinwheels ready for the BBQ, all set to watch Bill on HBO at 8pm....

Mike Malloy is great but he isnt a daytime host. Randi and Mike back to back in the afternoon would turn off a lot of people, much as I like both of them...

Replace Bubba with three hours of Ron Reagan....He would beat Dori's weiner into the dirt.