KNBR's Surprise Mid-Morning Shift

Gary Radnich and Damon Bruce hosting a morning show together? No more Radnich-Bruno? Larry Krueger is back at the station? Wow, I am having some wild dream. No, it's the latest in a surprise shakeup at the once-immortal blowtorch, KNBR 680 in San Francisco.

KNBR's initial mid-morning dance on August 1, 2011 did not impress loyal listeners (if the scathing postings on Facebook are any indication) The biggest surprise was the announcement of KNBR's decision to ax Tony Bruno's segment from the show, the most popular regular guest-host at "The Sports Leader".

Will the Radnich-Bruce partnership work? It would be interesting radio if it does, because they both are interesting, intelligent, and entertaining. Given the past success of The Razor and Mr. T., it actually could work. When Ralph Barbieri and Tom Tolbert were paired, many thought that ship wouldn't sail. But a dozen years later, they are the highest rated local sports-talk show in the Bay Area.

KNBR management's current focus is on producing a program that parallels Pardon the Interruption, a highly rated weekly ESPN talk show that has been on air for almost ten years. Does management realize that Radnich and Bruce are not Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilborn? Disagreements will be rare between the two as one is not as serious about sports (Radnich) and the other (Bruce) is a bit too intense, especially for the mid-morning. Both are very talented, but it's the wrong pairing in the wrong time slot.

It will take a couple of weeks for the pair to develop their chemistry together and the general format of the program, but with the new Bay Area FM sports station 95.7 The Game desperate to attract listeners, this is the wrong time for KNBR to fiddle with the lineup.

The management of the 50,000 watt "flamethrower" must be to find a way to bring back Tony Bruno's segment if they care anything about their audience. Radnich mentioned on the air that management felt Bruno was not "tuned in" to the local sports scene. But listening to his segment, there was a solid balance of local sports, national sports, and pop culture to make for an outstanding thirty minute segment.

A humble suggestion for management: Damon Bruce and Ted Robinson should team up from 9-11, Gary Radnich from 11-1 (with Tony Bruno from 11-11:30 as a lead in), Fitz & Brooks from 1-3, and the Razor & Mr. T round out the afternoon drive? Just a thought.