It's official -- Chris Baker returns

[FilioScotia]

Here's the release straight from the throne at CC's local office:

Michael Berry
AM Operations Manager
NewsRadio 740 KTRH
The 9-5-0 KPRC
The Sports Animal 790 KBME
michaelberry@clearchannel.com

Contact: Sanda Coyle 
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Clear Channel Radio
210-832-3345
sandacoyle@clearchannel.com

Houston gets a Morning Cup of Joe and a Good Baker

KPRC-AM Announces Chris Baker to Follow Joe ‘Pags’ Pagliarulo Starting March 2nd

Houston, Texas , February 17, 2009 –Beginning Monday, March 2nd, Houstonians will get an ever better cup of 9-5-0 Radio Mojo when Chris Baker returns to the airwaves on his hometown station KPRC-AM announced Eddie Martiny, President and Market Manager for Clear Channel Radio Houston.  The Chris Baker show will air live from 3-5pm daily, while award winning Joe ‘Pags’ Pagliarulo will move to mornings to host “your Morning Cup of Joe” from 6-9am.

“Chris has a lot of fans in Houston, and he’s incredibly talented.  We are excited to bring him back to Houston, back to the same station and time slot in which he began on-air over eight years ago,”  said Michael Berry, Operations Director for Clear Channel Radio Houston’s AM stations.  “With Walton & Johnson moving up the dial to the Arrow, 93.7 FM, the morning show slot opened on The 9-5-0. ‘Pags’ was the perfect choice for the mornings. If ‘Pags’ can appear on Fox News Channel, CNN, Headline News, CNBC and fill in for Glen Beck, we know he will be the perfect cup-of morning Joe for Houston.” added Berry.

Joe ‘Pags has been honored with multiple AP and broadcast association awards of excellence, and has been ranked among the most influential talk show hosts in America.  Chris Baker is a stand-up comic who has been making Houstonians laugh for years, but he also makes them think.  Houston loves his brand of talk and humor, and Clear Channel is looking forward to his listeners responding to his message.

The new KPRC-AM 9-5-0 Radio Mojo line up will be:

Morning Cup of Joe with Joe ‘Pags’ Pagliarulo                6a-9a
Michael Garfield                                                      9a-11a
Outlaw Dave                                                          11a-1p
Dave Ramsey Show                                                 1p-3p
The Chris Baker Show                                              3p-5p
The Michael Savage Show                                        5p-8p

KPRC-AM is the first radio station in Texas, originally broadcasting in 1925.  KPRC-AM’s legendary TalkRadio format transitioned to “guytalk” in July of 2007.  With the exciting move of ‘Pags’ to the mornings and the addition of Baker and the station will retain the popular Radio Mojo format. 

[photog]

Hooray!  I'm glad Chris will be back and especially at that time.  I know a lot of people find him annoying, but I love his humor and his "take" on issues.  I'm sure he'd like to be back in the "Great State of Texas".  I just wonder how nervous he is about picking up the family again and moving.  I will also enjoy listening to Michael Garfield.  I like his show on the weekend.  I wonder if it's going to issue driven.  He had a daily show for a short time before and it very quite entertaining.  Great move KPRC!!!!  

[zork]

He not moving. He stays at KTLK-FM Minneapolis and will phone the show in just like Joe Pags phones it in from San Antonio.

Both show will pretend to be in Houston but will  do a half-azz job by reading chron.com to appear local.

It no worse than the voice tracking CC does in other markets. It just eliminates the need for local talent.

I just wonder how nervous he is about picking up the family again and moving.  

[rocknrollisdead]

He not moving. He stays at KTLK-FM Minneapolis and will phone the show in just like Joe Pags phones it in from San Antonio.

Both show will pretend to be in Houston but will  do a half-azz job by reading chron.com to appear local.

It no worse than the voice tracking CC does in other markets. It just eliminates the need for local talent.

I just wonder how nervous he is about picking up the family again and moving.  

I was wondering that myself last nite.  Financially speaking, how can you justify moving a guy across the country for a two hour show; unless he's also taking some mgnt duties. 

That mystery’s been solved. 

Still glad Baker’s coming back though.

[photog]

Really?  I thought he'd be back he in Texas.  When they have this scenario, do they act like they are here or do they fess up they are out of the area?  So,  they go to the studio they are released from and broadcast from there?  With the staff and back up from where they are broadcasting from?  What about verbal banter between the supprot staff and the host?   

[snoman]

I guess once again I am in the minority.  Can we quit recycling hosts who's shows get canned and possibly try something new?  Ugh.

[adguy]

Good move for 950 bringing back Baker, but the other moves don't look so good.  W&J to 93.7 mornings.  Has anyone told CC that W&J replaced S&P on 101 years ago and it was an abortion.  W&J do not have a fraction of the talent or originality of Dean & Rog.  Garfield back to midday?  There was a reason he was pulled the first time.  I guess they figured he grew talent, knowledge and overall likeability since they relegated him back to weekends after the first failure.

Bottom-line you can see CC's dumping of salary and hence, talent.  There's just not enough to go around to fill two stations after you fill with Rush, Hannity and Baker.  One positive out of CC; I think Mike Berry has made big improvements to his show in recent months.  I guess you have to give Berry credit for programming as best he can with limited resources.  I was critical of Baker after he took the programming reins, but by bringing back Baker, he admitted he was wrong in dumping him the first time.  That's a programmer with cahonies and the ability to man-up.  I guess since W&J have moved to FM so that takes them off of Berry's balance sheet.  But come on Mike, you can do better than Garfield!

[photog]

I'm no a pro here, just a avid talk radio listener.  I caught Garf's show today and enjoyed it.  The other stations have politics on.  Sometimes you just need a break that.  I'll give Garf a listen and a chance to keep me listening.

[ReverendBow]

My biggest complain about that is the Joe Pages starts to late in my Commute.. I can't handle Mancow... That could be the single most worthless radio show in existence on the Houston Airwaves.

But it is good to hear Chris Baker back on the air, he seems a bit toned down since his last time...

[stan]

Good move for 950 bringing back Baker, but the other moves don't look so good.  W&J to 93.7 mornings.  Has anyone told CC that W&J replaced S&P on 101 years ago and it was an abortion.  W&J do not have a fraction of the talent or originality of Dean & Rog. 

Yes, abortion is the word I was searching for to describe W&J.