KFI Admits It Misled Fans : Radio: Program director says promo for Joe Crummey made some listeners think afternoon hosts John and Ken had been suspended.

KFI-AM(640) program director David Hall acknowledged Wednesday that he misled listeners last weekend into thinking that weekday afternoon talk-show hosts John Cobylt and Ken Chiampou had been suspended, but said the confusion was unintended.

Beginning late Friday and over the weekend, KFI repeatedly aired a promotional announcement by Hall in which he said, “I apologize for what John and Ken say. Please listen to Joe Crummey on Monday.”

Some people interpreted the announcement as meaning that Cobylt and Chiampou--who debuted in November--had been suspended and were left wondering what it was the duo had done. The station received a couple of dozen calls from listeners, Hall said.

Hall said he had planned the promotion with Cobylt and Chiampou, who were simply taking a day off Monday, in an effort to get people to tune in to Crummey, a KFI weekend host who was to be their replacement that day.

“They had actually been saying on the air that they were taking the day off on Monday, so I didn’t think anyone would think they were suspended,” Hall said. “It wasn’t intended as a publicity stunt. It wasn’t intended as a suspension. I really didn’t want to fool anybody. I was just looking for a unique way to promote Joe Crummey.”

Cobylt and Chiampou, heard weekdays from 4-7 p.m., were back on the air Tuesday and attempted to “defuse the situation,” Hall said. They described it as a “prank that got out of hand.”