Bonneville News/Talk 97.3 KIRO-FM Tacoma/Seattle has dropped the Ron & Don Show and is adding a new program hosted by Candy Harper, Mike Lewis and Todd Herman in the 3-7pm daypart starting Monday, January 14.
Candy Harper most recently served as Ron & Don’s producer. Mike Lewis has served as a reporter and fill-in host at KIRO-FM and Todd Herman moves over from afternoons at co-owned Conservative Talk “770 The Truth” KTTH.
Over At KTTH, morning host Jason Rantz will move to afternoons. Saul Spady, a local Conservative activist, will take over mornings.
Ron Upshaw and Don O’Neill had been with KIRO since 2005 first hosting late nights before moving to afternoons the following year. They have also hosted mornings at CHR 104.7 KZZP Phoenix and worked at Hot Talkers “100.7 The Buzz” KQBZ Seattle and “Live 105.3” KYNG Dallas.
A special thanks to the Ron and Don Nation after all these years! pic.twitter.com/iFxXVfJoCl
— Ron and Don (@RonandDon) January 11, 2019
Bonneville News/Talk 97.3 KIRO-FM Seattle adds a new weekday afternoon program to its lineup. “The Candy, Mike and Todd Show,” hosted by Candy Harper, Mike Lewis and Todd Herman, will debut on Monday, January 14 from 3-7pm. Harper most recently served as the station’s afternoon producer, while Lewis has worked at KIRO as a reporter and fill-in host since 2016. Herman has been the afternoon host on sister KTTH-AM since 2015 and a fill-in host on KIRO.
“This is an exciting moment in the continuing evolution of KIRO Radio,” said VP/Market Manager Dave Pridemore. “We feel that Candy, Mike and Todd will bring a variety of fun, entertaining and diverse perspectives that best represent the communities that KIRO Radio serves.”
“We’ve put together what we feel is a winning team,” said KIRO Director of News and Programming Ryan Maguire. “Candy, Mike and Todd are a fun, entertaining and intelligent trio. They will be a perfect complement to the news, traffic and weather elements that KIRO Radio listeners expect every weekday afternoon.”
“I can’t wait to get started,” said Harper. “Mike, Todd and I are three opinionated friends who may disagree on almost everything but love to talk about why. Turns out, people are quite capable of disagreeing on issues and still being decent human beings. This show is going to be unique.”
“This is a great opportunity and I’m excited to work with Candy and Todd,” added Lewis. “Listeners can expect a show that is authentic, relatable and well-informed. Hopefully, we can provide listeners with something that makes their commute home a little more enjoyable.”
“This job is a dream come true for me,” admitted Herman. “One of my goals in life is to be a force for bringing people together and to lend a genuine, conservative point of view to major media. I feel this show will truly do that. Candy, Mike, and I view life very differently. If you don’t want to live in a bubble, you’ll enjoy what the three of us have to say.”
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KTTH-AM Seattle announced a revamped lineup for its “conservative commute.” “The Saul Spady Show” will air weekday mornings from 6-9am, a new addition to the Bonneville Tak outlet’s lineup. “The Jason Rantz Show” headlines weekday afternoons from 3-6pm and the syndicated “Ben Shapiro Show” expands to weeknights from 6-9pm.
“The ‘Conservative Commute’ has never been more fresh and dynamic,” said VP/Market Manager Dave Pridemore. “Between Rantz, Medved and the addition of Spady, we’re positioned to continue to be the region’s most dominant and local conservative station.”
Spady is very active in local politics, most recently leading a grassroots effort to repeal Seattle’s Amazon head tax. An accomplished small businessman and lifelong Washingtonian, Spady’s family is very well known to the region, his grandfather the founder of the iconic Dick’s Drive-In. He is passionate about helping people tell their stories and establish a millennial voice in Washington state.
“I’m excited for this opportunity to create a new type of conservative talk radio show in mornings that gives a 21st century perspective both locally and nationally,” said Spady. “I hope to connect with listeners both new & old, transplant & local alike in our quest to create a rational opposition to the rudderless leadership we have in Seattle & Olympia.”
Rantz moves to afternoon drive after handling mornings for over a year. He’s appeared on FOX News, NBC Nightly News, KIRO, KING and KOMO television and in The Seattle Times. His blog has become the most-viewed on MyNorthwest.com.
“I’m excited to take over afternoon drive and continue tackling the stories that impact everyone’s daily lives,” Rantz said. “From homelessness and the opioid epidemic, to the war on cars and demonization of cops, there are a lot of issues we need to shine a light on or champion, and I look forward to continuing the conversations in the afternoon.”