Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Mr. KABC Out in Los Angeles

Yesterday we reported that lib talk had recorded a small victory in Boston when Tom Finnernan, took over the morning drive slot on WRKO. Today we report another setback. Marc Germain, aka Mr. KABC is out at the Los Angeles station, which once was dominated by left of center talkers like Michael Jackson and Gloria Alred.

Now the ABC (All Bloviating Conservatives) owned station will have no liberals on the weekday program line-up. Although no announcement has been made about who will be replacing Mr. KABC, we suspect that the time will give to Mark Levin who currently is carried from 9-10 pm. This seems to be consistent with ABC’s strategy in other markets, where they have dumped local talkers to make way for their newest right wing star.

One suspects that ratings were not the reason for canning of Mr. KABC. His late-night show was always the first or second most popular radio show during the 10 pm to 1 am time period.

Mr. KABC was a real survivor. I first started listening to him in the mid 90’s when he was known as Mr. KFI. He moved his show to KABC in 1996. The show was very unique. He would start out by saying we don’t have guests, no topics, and no call screeners. The name of the show was "Ask Mr. KABC" and the callers were all over the map, usually not political types. Callers were required to ask a question. Often those questions were quite bizarre, like "how fast does hair grow?" Or "what is heavier – milk or cream?"

Some of the features that he popularized were allowing callers to hang up on themselves, identifying the rare female callers, as "another KABC vixen," and his standard rejoinder when asked how he was doing – "better than most not as good as some."

While the Mr. KABC show was not political it was clear that Mr. KABC was moderate to liberal on most issues. As the station moved further to the right about six years ago by first adding Sean Hannity and then Bill O’Reilly. At the same time they dumped liberal radio’s most famous host, Michael Jackson and completing their line-up with a conservative gay guy – Al Rantel and a conservative black guy – Larry Elder. (KFI already had the consevative Jewish Guy --Dennis Praeger.)

The morning slot, hosted by another conservative, Doug McIntyre, gets creamed every day by Bill Handel and is even often beat by lib talker Stephanie Miller.

The question is not why did the ABC station can Mr. KABC, but why did it take so long? When Germain was doing his top-rated show at KFI he would always suggest that the show would not survive past the millennium. It looks like he survived more than six years longer.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is terrible news! I can't believe it. Mr. KABC/KFI is serious talent.

Anonymous said...

Yes it is a damm shame KABC let Mr. K go. That station is really going down hill. He had a great show that let callers talk which is unlike most of the other shows and host. The show was light and entertaining and did not try to shove some opinion down your throat.

Hope he lands another gig.

Anonymous said...

I've listened to this station for years and have seen them steadily decline and this is the final straw. Without Mr. KABC they simply have no one else worth listening to.

Anonymous said...

I loved MR KFI, but felt the MR KABC show has gone downhill in the last few years. The callers got dumber and dumber and it did not seem that MR KABC was up on current events to the extent that he was a decade ago. I used to learn a lot from him. Lately I was mentally correcting his mis-statements. Furthermore, he seemed more angry and condescending.

Sorry, but I welcome one more hour of Mark Levin.

Despite this, I hope he lands on his feet elsewhere. I know he is passionate about what he does and making it in a creative field is never easy.

Anonymous said...

go to aprilwinchell.com to read the full scoop. Looks like he's about to be back on the air somewhere else soon.

Anonymous said...

I have been a fan since Mr K was on KFI. Al Rantel is the last one I listen too on KABC, but turn him off when he mentions Ann Koulter. ABC now seems to be a political wing og the Republican National Comm. Too bad. They forget they are entertainment shows, not political condesending mouthpieces. I still miss Ken & Company. He was a voice of reason and humor. I will lister to Mr K whereever he goes.

Anonymous said...

Another liberal bites the dust at KABC. As far as I'm concerned, that's not such a bad thing. I will probably be listening more in that time slot now, especially if Mark Levin is on. Mr.K has a lot of talent and a lot of knowledge (although not enough apparently to not be a liberal!) and he'll be just fine. His loyal listeners will follow him to his next gig.

Anonymous said...

I'd love to be able to listen to KABC on Sunday nights - but that's when O.J. apologist Leo Terell is on. When does that clown get the axe?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Kabc can find a liberal talk station where his talents will be appreciated... OH wait where would that be... Good luck

Anonymous said...

I have good news, and I wanted you to be the first to know:

I am now Marc "Mr. K" Germain. I have moved from the old station to AM 1150 KTLK 3:00 – 7:00 weekdays. I have big plans for the show. The most interesting people have already asked to come down to “Hang with Mr. K” and I'll have a producer/sidekick in Lisa Goich and our cast of regulars will return.

Finally, and most importantly, there is YOU. I hope, as one of my loyal listeners, you will continue to tune in and let me know your thoughts about the new show. Over time, my new website www.marcgermain.com will have information all about me, the show and a place to send eMail directly to me when I'm on and off the air.

The show returns this Monday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on KTLK AM 1150. If you are out of the KTLK listening area, you can listen live from the station website: www.ktlkam1150.com.

Now, I need a favor - can I count on you to send this eMail to just five people or call them to let them know I'm back?
So, until Monday at 3:00 PM - do everything I wouldn't do...

***I will do a sneak peek show tonight (Friday) from 8-10PM. Tune to AM 1150***

Anonymous said...

I AM SOOO RELEIVED TO KNOW MR. K HAS
MOVED TO KTLK! I HAVE BEEN A REAL FAN SINCE MR. KFI.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW SHOW.

Anonymous said...

Glad Mr K is gone from KABC - Hope he takes April W. with him. Maybe we could be lucky enough for him to take Leo also .............

Anonymous said...

I thought his show was lame when he was on KFI, with idiots constantly hanging up on themselves. But his show became much more informative and mature when he moved on to KABC.

I am one of his conservative listeners and loyal fans and I will miss him, his regular callers, his un-guests, his classic bumber music, and especially his friend April Winchell!

How can Leo Terrell still be on the air at KABC and Marc Germain be working for a second rate station like KTLK?

Michael Self said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I started listening to KABC when I heard Doug McIntyre on Red-Eye Radio. This got me to listening to Mr. KABC and then to (occassionally) Al Rantel, who I can certainly do without with his worship of Ann Coulter. When Doug moved to the morning drive, I reluctantly listened to Kevin James and realized I STILL wasn't going to get to bed at a decent hour because Kevin was great. NOW, with Kevin James and Mr. KABC gone, I can finally tune out from KABC altogether as McIntyre in the Morning isn't a must-listen-to program for me as the pace is too rushed for the topics covered and guests and callers aren't given the time to speak. And while I'm still a fan, Doug seems crankier in this time slot and seems abusive to Rob Marenko.

Finally, I can get some sleep. Good luck, Marc and Kevin! You'll get other gigs and I'll listen to you both there.

Anonymous said...

I just read that Marc Germain - great name, I knew his name was Marc, but didn't know his last name - has already found another station!

With Kevin James gone, too, I can just turn to KTLK and simply listen to Marc Germain in a time slot that works for me. Too bad April won't be his sidekick.

Anonymous said...

Has the U.S/ Congress acknowledeged the genocide against the American Indian?

Anonymous said...

He just seemed to be getting angrier and more arrogant and bored with his callers. I, too, am happier to have another hour of Mark Levin, who can also be angry and arrogant, but does so in an entertaining manner. Levin's show has more depth and substance, even if you don't agree with him.

james cleveland said...

I like Doug & Mark. I did not care for Mr.kfi/kabc so did listen to him. To bad O'reily left. I don't like a liberal point of veiw anyway

Anonymous said...

i love it



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