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

[Jeast]

Thx about the Mike Malloy
7 pm online tip...yea, maybe movin Mike to the 3-6pm would cause listener's more road rage thinkin about Bush the Dope and fellow neo convicts...I may send a tip to KTPK or better call their comment line regarding Ron Reagan AND that Damn, GREAT SEX oinment for men....what about we women and getting great sex. That commercial is sooooooo overplayed. Wonder why Dori isnt a spokesman for the oinment, he peddles everything else....

[sparky]

ewwwww dont say Dori and ointment in the same sentence!!!!!!

The Univeristy Volkswagon ad is the one that makes me scream....

[Tommy008]

Joanie, at least this fillin guy had a GUEST on. And Juan's at least a Democrat. Rush claims he's too big to have little author-type guests on, but it's really because he's frightened to have them on. All he has on are Republican bigwigs like Dick Chaney, very rarely at that.They fawn over each other for a few minutes and it's over. A real interview with someone who can write real books, as opposed to his own simpleton- level tracts of nonsense he's put out, will expose his undereduacation and lack of intellect. He's the little fat man behind the curtain in his own Wizard of Oz, with his huge gas ballon face roiling and boiling above the wall

[KS]

Rush's guest hosts are more interesting to listen to than he is whenever I happen to listen at that time to 770. Back to the Commentators - should be stiff local competition vs. Rush here. Dave Ross will probably be relegated to a close third.

I like Juan Williams' new book - he and Bill Cosby are both speaking out about the African-American culture and their brethren when it is desperately needed.

[Rick]

"....He would beat Dori's weiner into the dirt." What a visual that is....

[DJ Allyn]

I would love to see AM1090 put Ron Reagan on for the afternoon drive. Leave Malloy where he's at. I like Franken, but he doesn't have radio "chops". He is very hard to listen to.

KPTK needs local programming to be viable. Keep the morning lineup and retool the afternoon.

[sparky]

Rick...metaphorical, I assure you :-)

[joanie]

I like Franken, but he doesn't have radio "chops". He is very hard to listen to.

What makes him hard to listen to? I have some pet peeves over his delivery myself, but I still find him entertaining, informative and enjoy the show.

[joan]

Hello, I'm looking for information about the old time radio or TV show, with Joan Davis, Joanie's Tea Room. Did she actually operate a tea room? or was that phrase just her telephone answering line?