KFI's Midday Libtalk Experiment Ends Badly

CLEARLY MIS-HANDEL-ED

As Replacement Fails, Dr Laura Vindicated







A short-lived attempt at placing liberal talk in KFI's midday schedule has failed spectacularly, providing vindication to Dr Laura Schlessinger, the host who previously filled that space.

After just six months, the Bill Handel Show faltered not only in Southern California, but nationally as well, as the program's syndication effort collapsed from a lack of affiliates. In today's Orange County Register, Handel and KFI are in damage control mode, claiming two programs a day proved overwhelming. Handel remains KFI's morning-drive host.

Wasn't his workload considered before he took the second gig?

As we reported in November, Handel's desire to be nationally syndicated full-time resulted in the bumping of longtime KFI midday advice talker Dr Laura Schlessinger, who found a new home at rival CBS outlet KFWB-AM. The latter outlet recently flipped to talk from news. Schlessinger's ratings remained strong at KFI through the end and the circumstances behind her removal remain murky.

Known for his abrasive style in public, Handel took the extra step of lambasting Dr Laura after taking her timeslot. In the past, he's also lashed out at several other conservative talkers, most notably Rush Limbaugh.

Though not traditionally considered a liberal talker, Handel has increasingly moved in that direction in recent years, with tirades against Joe The Plumber, tea partiers, denunciations of Second Amendment rights, in addition to bizarre tirades against Armenians, Creole speakers and others. Some on the left still refer to Handel as a "right-winger", or at most, a centrist, but it doesn't reflect the shift.


Rather than rejoice over her public vindication, Dr Laura seems focused on moving forward at her new station.

Reached earlier today, she had this reaction to the news: "I am thoroughly enjoying working with CBS / KFWB. We just had a Wounded Warrior Foundation fundraiser dance last Saturday night at the Grove in Anaheim with 1100 eager fans who danced all night in 60s garb to Motown music- and we have more events in the works. Ratings are great and growing. I am very content."



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