FRIEDMAN TO REPLACE TONI GRANT

Sonya Friedman, who writes a column for Ladies’ Home Journal and has hosted a cable TV talk show, was hired Wednesday to replace Toni Grant as one of the radio psychologists at KABC (790), the station said.

Friedman will begin broadcastingon the local airwaves Jan. 6, filling KABC’s 2-4 p.m. slot on Mondays and Tuesdays following the departure of Grant, who announced last month that she is leaving the station when her contract expires at the end of the year in order to pursue other career options.

Friedman, a graduate of Wayne State University who for the last four years hosted “Sonya” on the USA cable network, will continue to live in Detroit and will commute to New York to broadcast for KABC over its parent ABC’s national TalkRadio Network, a KABC spokeswoman said.

David Viscott will continue to field calls from listeners about their personal lives on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m., the spokeswoman said.

Psychologist Grant has been dispensing advice at KABC for the last 10 years. At one time she was on weekdays from 1 to 4 p.m., but Viscott took over the Friday show two years ago and then the Wednesday and Thursday programs last month.

At the same time, KABC cut the shows from three hours to two, filling the 1 p.m. slot with a medical advice program hosted by Dr. Dean Edell.