Posted by Tony Radisson on January 15, 2011 at 11:55:12:
DreX replacement team at WKSC debuts Monday
Lewis Lazare
Media & Marketing Columnist
Last Modified: Jan 14, 2011 05:38AM
Top 40 WKSC-FM�s (103.5) new morning drive show with Brotha� Fred, David L. and Angi Taylor kicks off Monday. The show, expected to be heavily comedic in tone, replaces DreX, who was dumped last month in the middle of a five-year contract. Sidekick Mel T. went bye-bye with DreX, but Taylor, DreX�s other sidekick, has been paired with the new morning gang.
Clear Channel Radio Chicago executives have declined comment on the reasons for DreX�s abrupt departure, but ratings appear to have been a factor. As DreX began to slump in the ratings in his show�s target 18 to 34-year-old demo, the morning drive show with J. Niice and Julian at arch-competitor CBS Radio�s WBBM-FM (96.3) was rising to the top.
WKSC executives have high hopes for Brotha� Fred and David L., who were popular in Charlotte, N.C., where their radio show previously aired.
Alegria leaves 290 North
Janet Davies, the longtime host and lead producer of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7�s �190 North,� has lost one of her core contributors. After an eight-year stint, Michelle Alegria has exited the weekly entertainment and leisure-oriented show that aired Sunday nights. Alegria is moving with her husband to the West Coast, where she plans to pursue new broadcast opportunities, according to Davies. Alegria could not immediately be reached for comment.
Though Alegria was a valued member of the tight-knit �190 North� family, Davies said her departure from the show, now in its 12th season, provides an opportunity to think about whether she wants to make any significant changes in the show�s format. �I want to focus for a while on my options, and see how I want to configure the show,� noted Davies, who said she has not decided if she will replace Alegria.
Eva Saha, whom Davies describes as a friend of the show, has taped a couple of segments for �190 North,� but Davies isn�t formally auditioning anyone right now.
The departure of Alegria leaves just two contributors � Mark Nilsson and Doug Banks � plus host Davies, developing content for �190 North.� None of the show�s talent, with the exception of Davies, are full-time employees at Channel 7. Lou Canellis was for many years a �190 North� contributor until he took a full-time job in sports at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32. He is now Channel 32�s lead sports anchor. Nilsson replaced Canellis on �190 North.�