Wacky May Be In, but Ratings Don’t Show It

The morning time slot is the radio equivalent of television’s prime time. It’s the most important, make-or-break ratings period. But instead of attracting an audience of unwinding nighttime couch potatoes, morning radio shows are battling for semi-comatose types who are trying to wake up by pumping caffeine into their systems.

“Most people are not morning people,” KKLQ (Q106) program director Garry Wall said. “They’re not happy to be up and they’re not excited about the day. They’re looking to get started.”

This explains the preponderance of wild and wacky morning teams that have become the norm for San Diego radio in the 6-to-10 a.m. time slot. After 13 years with KFMB-AM (760), Hudson and Bauer are the elder statesmen of San Diego’s morning teams, but it was probably the success of KFMB-FM’s (B100) “B-Morning Zoo” with the Rich Brothers that started the latest rage in supposedly zany morning shows.

“A few years ago, it was sort of quiet in morning drive time,” KGB-FM (101.5) program director Ted Edwards said. “Most were warm and friendly shows. Slowly but surely comedy has become important. Even the warm and friendly shows have become less glib and more aggressive.”

And here’s the irony: Although Berger and Prescott (KGB), Hudson and Bauer, Murphy and McKeever (Q106), Jeff and Jer (Y95) and all the other wacky teams are doing well, it’s the news-talk of KSDO-AM (1130) that is leading the pack. In the Arbitron ratings for the fall period released last week, KSDO, with Roger Hedgecock starting at 9 a.m., posted a 9.3 share among listeners 12 years and older, followed by Q106 (8.0), KFMB-AM (7.9), B100 (7.4) and KGB (6.8).

News-talk traditionally does well in the morning, and that puts even more pressure on the other morning shows. Morning drive time is a station’s biggest revenue producer, and the morning show has to bring in the ratings.

“I can honestly say that if we went down in the (ratings) book they would be thinking about us,” said Katy Manor of XTRA-AM’s (91X) “Breakfast Club,” which jumped from a 3.9 to a 4.5 in the most recent book. Manor has been teamed with comedian Russ T. Nailz, who is currently negotiating a contract with the station.

“We’d better show some trend,” Manor said, “and show that we have what it takes.”

“Use a camera, go to jail” is the new creed of many photographers in town, who are tired of confrontations with police officers. The latest incident involved KNSD-TV (Channel 39) photographer Daniel Diaz and prompted an investigation by the San Diego Police Department’s internal affairs division. Diaz says he approached the scene of a traffic accident, only to be told brusquely by an officer to back off, that it was a “crime scene.” After retreating behind a row of fire trucks, Diaz says, he started shooting pictures. The officer then handcuffed him and put him in the back of a squad car for 30 minutes, Diaz says, even though other photographers were closer to the scene. He was released when a police supervisor arrived.

“We really get the feeling that we’re the enemy,” Diaz said.

Internal affairs has completed its investigation of the incident, but the results are confidential, police spokesman Dave Cohen said. . . .

Several reports to Rumor Control had San Diego Union Editor (and former Richard Nixon aide) Gerald Warren seeking an ambassadorship with the new Bush Administration. “Dead wrong,” Warren said. “I am not pursuing an ambassadorship . . . “

Larry Himmel has received the go-ahead from Channel 39 management to take his show weekly, beginning Feb. 4. It will air Saturdays at 7 p.m. . . . Ernie Myers is gone from KSDO-AM after eons. The station is negotiating with presidential son Michael Reagan to replace Myers. Next Monday the station is scheduled to premier a new nightly open-phone talk show hosted by John Krist, most recently of Cleveland, who has substituted for afternoon host Stacy Taylor in the past. . . .

Channel 8 anchorwoman Allison Ross is on medical leave from the station and, contrary to published reports, her absence has nothing to do with her recent contract negotiations. Ross signed a one-year deal a couple of months ago. She was scheduled to return to work last week, but was evidently not ready. She is expected back on the air tonight. . . .

Both Channels 8 and 10 deserve special awards of cheesy merit for simultaneously promoting themselves as the No. 1 news operations in town. Channel 8 is using the Nielsen ratings report, Channel 10 is using the Arbitron report, and discerning viewers are using their remote controls. . . .

Just a week after the Federal Communications Commission officially awarded it the KIFM (98.1) operating license, KIFM Broadcasting, a new entity headed by Bruce Walton, has reached an agreement with the interim operators, AFC Broadcasting, to use the name “Lite’s Out” and purchase the station’s equipment and record library. Barring any unforeseen problems, KIFM Broadcasting expects to take control of the station sometime after Feb. 1. . . .

Local sales manager Scotty Morache is replacing Walton as general sales manager of KCBQ (Eagle 105). . . . Dawn Gallagher has resigned as promotions director of XTRA-FM (91X), effective Feb. 28. She is going into partnership with Janne Anderson in the event marketing and promotion business. . . . Don’t bother trying to reach Channel 39 “doctor on call” Harvey Shapiro. The station didn’t renew his contract. Also out at Channel 39 is reporter Doug Curlee. . . .

Businessman Leonard Glass’ Western Sun Entertainment has purchased the Pussycat Theater in El Cajon and plans to split it into two theaters featuring second-run movies, similar to the fare offered by the Strand, Western Sun’s theater in Ocean Beach. The purchase is contingent on approval plan by the city of El Cajon. Glass said he is looking for other properties to convert into theaters to show movies that have been on the market for a few months, at reduced prices. Cinema Society director Andy Friedenberg, Glass said, has been hired to book movies into the Strand.