Mike's preface: Normally I'd cringe when I hear of experiments in on-air product like this. "Stunting," I say to myself, "the station is just stunting." But it's an Emmis property, in Chicago, and the more I hear about this, the more it sounds at least promising. On the other hand, a large staff for a radio show is often the kiss of death, as is the use of non-radio types. And using the words "tightly formatted" and "radio comedy" in the same sentence seems to be somewhat of an oxymoron.
So, read this and share what you think by cliicking on the comment button below the article: Is this a good idea or has the concept jumped the shark before the broadcast begins?
September 14, 2006
by Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times columnist
When WKQX-FM (101.1) parted company with Mancow Muller after eight years as the station's morning franchise, bosses of the Emmis Communications alternative rocker promised they'd replace him with something entirely different.
They weren't kidding.
What debuts at 5:30 a.m. Monday will be unlike anything that's ever been heard on morning radio in Chicago -- or probably anywhere else for that matter.
An ensemble cast of relatively unknown comedy actors and writers -- few with any radio experience whatsoever -- have been hired to present a news and information show heavy on humor and entertainment.
Or is it a humor and entertainment show heavy on news and information?
"We don't even have a name for it yet," said Mike Stern, vice president of programming for Emmis Radio Chicago and the godfather of the bold new concept.
Groggy listeners who come across Q101's new morning show may at first think they've stumbled upon an FM version of WBBM-AM (780), the CBS Radio all-news machine.
Indeed, Stern has borrowed shamelessly from the newsradio model with his use of a tightly formatted "clock" to schedule such fixed elements such as news, sports, weather, traffic, interviews, parodies and other bits down to the second. Each half-hour will contain all of those segments along with a limited number of commercial minutes.
But unlike the news delivered by Pat & Felicia and their "Newsradio 780" cohorts, Stern's Q101 crew will be doing everything for laughs.
Everything.
"We know that more and more young people are getting their news from 'The Daily Show,' 'The Colbert Report,' 'Saturday Night Live' and other sources that combine news with attitude and humor," Stern said. "But up to now, radio hasn't provided that. We think there's a place for smart, topical humor that doesn't talk down to people."
Anchor Alan Cox, a Chicago native and Northwestern University alum, will host the fast-paced show, calling on an array of characters and relying on a staff of writers headed by "SNL" veteran Michael McCarthy.
But in Stern's view, the real star of the show is the format itself.
"Listeners have been telling us for years that radio sucks, but we keep putting the same thing on the air," he said. "Well, maybe the listeners are right. We believe it's worth the risk to try something new on radio."
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