Many of you know Michael Berry as the colorful afternoon 740 KTRH talk show host. You probably did not know he also served as AM operations manager for Clear Channel Houston.
Sources tell me that of last Friday the latter is no longer true. Longtime KTRH program director Bryan Erickson will be stepping into the operations manager role.
Berry stepping down from his management position does not surprise me. Why? Well he seems to be filling in on a lot of national shows lately. Then I noticed the debut of michaelberry.com...a site that could easily be made into a larger presence than just for Houston. So with more time for his show, is Michael Berry about to be a national radio show player?
“I’m now doing a longer show (4 full hours daily), and this takes all my time and energy." Berry told the mikemcguff.com blog. "Our stations are performing well and Bryan Erickson was ready to step in and lead them. I don’t know if going national is the next step, but I’m flattered that there is interest in carrying my show in places outside our market. Only time will tell what that means for me and the show.”
Berry's confession to me that his show could go outside Houston is the potential first step to a coast to coast broadcast. You can say you knew him when...
Just three years ago I interviewed Houston Councilman Michael Berry at city hall as he was leaving politics to enter radio management full time. How time flies.
Some changes for Houston Clear Channel stations NewsRadio 740 KTRH and The 950 KPRC. For one thing, Houston radio listeners get more Michael Berry, meanwhile Glenn Beck moves to 950AM and more. Here is the Clear Channel release from today:
Clear Channel Radio announced today that Houston’s top talk show will now be heard twice a day on KTRH, effective Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. The popular Michael Berry show will continue to air weekdays from 5-7:00 p.m. and will also air weekday mornings from 8-11:00 a.m. on AM 740 KTRH. Berry has served the Houston community as a former Mayor Pro Tem and city councilman.
“We heard from KTRH listeners that they wanted more of the Michael Berry Show, and our goal is to provide listeners with programming they want to hear. Local talk is alive and well in Houston,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Operations, Clear Channel Radio. “Going into a huge election year, and at a time when politics are on everyone’s mind, this lineup reflects our listeners’ passion.”
“Our commitment to provide the best local talk and news content is stronger than ever. While most news operations around the country are downsizing, we’re adding staff to our news team,” said Erickson.
KTRH is a 50,000 watt heritage station that began broadcasting in 1922 and has the largest signal in Texas. Berry will replace Glenn Beck in the mornings. Beck’s program will broadcast on sister station, KPRC 950 AM, weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The KTRH Morning News with Matt Patrick and Lois Melkonian will air weekdays from 5-8:00 a.m. Patrick will take over Berry’s weekday hosting position on KPRC AM 950 from 2-5:00 p.m.
“Patrick has been a great addition to the station,” said Erickson. “He is eager to take on this new opportunity and challenge.”
“I am excited for both Michael Berry and Matt Patrick; both are incredibly smart and entertaining. Berry and Patrick are two of our companies rising superstars and I am pleased that their loyal listeners will now be able to hear them in both mornings and afternoons,” said Houston Clear Channel Market Manager Eddie Martiny.
The KTRH lineup will feature Houston’s Morning News from 5-8:00 a.m.; the Michael Berry Show from 8-11:00 a.m.; the Rush Limbaugh Show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sean Hannity from 2-5:00 p.m.; the Michael Berry Show from 5-7:00 p.m.; and Mark Levin from 7-10:00 p.m.
Fans can listen to KTRH, on the station’s website, ktrh.com, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel’s best-in-class customizable digital listening experience, offering more than 800 of the nation's most popular live broadcast and digital-only radio stations, plus user-created Custom Stations which provide listeners more songs, better music intelligence, more user control and deeper social media integration, all combined in one free, fully-integrated service.
I noticed that Michael Garfield's time slot on KPRC is being filled by Glenn Beck. Waiting to find out what happens to the High Tech Texan's show The World According to Garf on weekdays.
UPDATE: The Clear Channel media rep told me the new 950 KPRC schedule and then it was released on the station's Facebook page:
6a-10 Joe Pags
10a-Noon Glenn Beck
Garf will now be Noon-2pm weekdays
2p-5p Matt Patrick
5p-8p Michael Savage
Outlaw Dave goes to 8-10pm week nights
10p-1a Dennis Miller
Since Lemmon's death, "The High Tech Texan" Michael Garfield from iHeart Houston sister-station 950 KPRC has been filling-in with Beverly Welch and Angela Chandler.
“Garden Line” airs 6am to 10am Saturdays and Sundays on Newstalk 740 KTRH.
Robert "Skip" Richter has served as the National Gardening Association’s regional horticulturist for the southeastern US and is a contributing editor to Texas Gardener magazine.
“We’re all still reeling from the sudden loss of Randy,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston in a statement. “This was a difficult search and we feel fortunate to have found Skip. Not only is he one of the most qualified horticulturists in Texas, he has the perfect ‘down home’ demeanor when it comes to helping listeners with their gardening issues.”
Richter received his master’s degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University. He has worked with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for 34 years in various counties across the state, including Montgomery, Travis, Harris and most recently Brazos, where he currently serves as a County Extension Agent in Horticulture.
He received the County Extension Agent Award from the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association in 2023 and was recently selected as a Regents Service Fellow by the Board of Regents for the Texas A&M University System.
"I'm excited to be hosting Garden Line and helping listeners have more bountiful gardens and beautiful landscapes," Richter added. "Randy was an old friend going back to college when we lived in the same dorm. We will all miss him, and I consider it an honor to carry on the Garden Line tradition."
He is a popular speaker for garden clubs, Master Gardener programs, and other gardening events across Texas. He has written numerous gardening articles for magazines and newspapers, including his weekly gardening column for The Eagle newspaper in Bryan/College Station. His “Gardening with Skip” YouTube channel features over 120 brief gardening videos.
Richter has gardened in the brush country of south Texas, the rocky hills of the Missouri Ozarks, the acid sands of the East Texas piney woods, the semi-arid climate and high pH soils of central Texas, and the humid, hot climate and black clays of southeast Texas.
He has hosted the "Garden Success with Skip Richter" radio show on KAMU 90.9 FM Bryan-College Station for more than eight years.
Stan Norfleet will join the lineup of iHeartMedia Houston’s Sportstalk 790 KBME, Houston’s Home for Your Astros, Your Rockets, & Your Home Teams, from 10am-12pm weekdays, effective February 13, 2023.
"It is a tremendous blessing and honor to join the renowned iHeartMedia Houston family," Norfleet said in a statement. "I have long been a fan and avid listener of Sportstalk 790 and respect the history and contributions of its personalities. My affinity for Space City spans nearly two decades and I look forward to connecting with old friends and new listeners in the market.”
“Stan brings amazing passion to everything he does,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston. “He has strong local ties and we’re thrilled to add him to the team.”
Norfleet replaces Sportstalk 790 host and former NFL player, ND Kalu, who is departing to focus on his growing real estate business.
“ND is a tremendous talent and one of the most down to earth people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. He will be missed,” said Erickson.
An NFL prospect, Norfleet, played football at the University of Virginia and Texas Southern University.
He later worked for the Houston Texans and the Houston Rockets before transitioning into broadcasting as a host, analyst and sideline reporter.
I received the below press release earlier this week so I wanted to bring it to your attention now I'm back in H-Town.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reported that the former hosts in that time slot, Jayson Braddock and former Houston Oilers defensive lineman Sean Jones, were let go. Adam Clanton, also apart of the show, was let go in May after a Twitter beef with morning show host Josh Innes.
As I tweeted earlier this week, Clanton is now working part-time at SportsRadio 610 KILT.
Thank you to the wonderful people of Houston for allowing me to talk sports w you in the afternoons over the last 11 months.
My most enjoyable moment was being able to celebrate an Astros Championship before time ran out
Here is the press release about Sean Salisbury joining KBME:
Former NFL Quarterback Sean Salisbury joins the weekday lineup from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. “We’re thrilled to be adding Salisbury to the team. The former QB brings a unique perspective from his days on the gridiron,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeart Media Houston.
In addition to playing professional football for 10 years, Salisbury has worked as an NFL analyst on ESPN, appearing on Sports Center and NFL Live, and served as a consultant for the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard.
“I've been blessed with a full career and this opportunity to work with iHeart and Sportstalk 790 was too good to pass up in so many ways. I don't take these great moments lightly,” said Salisbury. “The last 5 years have been special. I fully expect this new journey to be filled with WOW moments that make our listeners feel like they are getting the show they deserve!”
Salisbury joins a lineup featuring Josh Innes, Matt Thomas and former NFL players Greg Koch and N.D. Kalu. SportsTalk 790 will also continue its broadcast partnerships with the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and the University of Texas football and basketball teams.
“We’ve put together an All Star lineup of guys who know sports and love talking about sports,” said Erickson. “Sportstalk 790 is truly the best destination for compelling local sports content in Houston.”
Full Programming Lineup:
“The Josh Innes Show” 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
“In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu” 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
“The Matt Thomas Show” 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
“The Sean Salisbury Show” 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
iHeartMedia Houston has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises – both broadcast and digital – including SUNNY 99.1, 94.5 The Buzz, The All-New 93.7 The Beat, KISS FM, Newsradio 740 KTRH, AM 950 KPRC and SportsTalk 790 – and produces legendary marquee events including Buzzfest and The Houston Beat Bash.
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in the Houston market and its content is available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast station; online via its branded digital site; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music and live radio service – with its more than 1.7 billion downloads and 110 million registered users.
About iHeartMedia Houston
iHeartMedia Houston owns and operates KBME-AM, KISS-FM, KQBT-FM, KODA-FM, KPRC-AM, KTBZ-FM, KTRH-AM), and is part of iHeartMedia. With over a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. and over 131 million social followers, iHeartMedia has the largest national reach of any radio or television outlet in America. As the leading media company in the U.S., iHeartMedia serves over 150 local markets through 849 owned radio stations, and the company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, on satellite, at iHeartRadio.com, on the company’s station websites and on iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s digital music, podcast, on demand and live streaming radio service, available on over 250 platforms and 2,000 devices, including on digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables and smartphones, on virtual assistants, smart speakers, TVs and gaming consoles.
iHeartRadio offers users the country's top live radio stations, personalized custom artist stations created by just one song or seed artist, on demand features and the top podcasts and personalities. The all-in-one digital service has more than 1.7 billion downloads, 110 million registered users and is the No. 1 commercial radio podcaster in the U.S.
iHeartMedia’s platforms include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital, social, podcasts, personalities and influencers, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (PINK: IHRTQ). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
Friday morning, the station issued a press release about the new lineup with "The Sean Salisbury Show” moving to the AM slot and “The A-Team with Adam Clanton” to debut in the afternoon slot.
Here is the full release:
HOUSTON – March 21, 2019– iHeartMedia Houston announced today its new weekday lineup for SportsTalk 790, Houston’s Home for Your Home Teams, effective Monday, March 25.
As part of the new program lineup, “The Sean Salisbury Show” starring former NFL Houston Oiler quarterback Sean Salisbury will broadcast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The morning show features Michael Connor, Rachel Van Oranje and Adam Sager and will include expert analysis and commentary on all things Houston sports related.
“Being the leadoff hitter is a great challenge,” said Salisbury. “Listeners rely on you to kick-start their day with great energy and passion. I’m very excited to be part of a show that gives our listeners top of the morning sports news and intriguing commentary.”
“The combination of Sean’s energy and his perspective as a former football player is going to be a great way for local sports fans to start their day,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston.
The new program lineup will also feature Houston Rockets’ play-by-play broadcaster Matt Thomas and former NFL players Greg Koch and N.D. Kalu. In addition, on-air personality Adam Clanton returns to Sportstalk 790 and will host “The A-Team” from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“Clanton is die-hard Houston sports fan and his experience and passion are going to be an excellent addition to our lineup,” “And watch for an exciting announcement in the days to come about Clanton’s co-host,” added Erickson.
SportsTalk 790 will also continue its broadcast agreements with the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and the University of Texas football and basketball teams.
Programming Lineup:
The Sean Salisbury Show 6 a.m. – 10 a.m.
In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The Matt Thomas Show 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
The A-Team 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in the Houston market and its content is available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast station; online via its branded digital site; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music and live radio service – with its more than 2 billion downloads and 125 million registered users.
iHeartMedia Houston Debuts New Lineup for SportsTalk 790
Houston, Texas – June 19, 2017– iHeartMedia Houston announced today its new weekday lineup for SportsTalk 790, Houston’s Home for Your Home Teams, effective July 17.
The new schedule will begin at 6:00 a.m. weekdays with “The Josh Innes Show,” which has been broadcasted in afternoons on SportsTalk 790 since October 2016. Innes is a veteran sports radio personality who first worked in Houston radio in 2009. In January
2013, he moved to Philadelphia, where “The Josh Innes Show” was one of the most listened to afternoon drive sports radio shows in the city.
Josh Innes
“We’ve received a lot of great feedback since Josh joined SportsTalk 790,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston. “Love him or hate him, he’s one of the most passionate guys on the radio right now and that resonates with sports fans.”
In addition to new time slots for on-air personality Matt Thomas and “In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu,” SportsTalk 790 announced that veteran football scout, writer and fantasy football expert Jayson Braddock will join hosts Adam Clanton and Sean Jones on
“The Bottom Line,” which will now air during the afternoons. SportsTalk 790 will also continue its broadcast partnerships with the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and the University of Texas football and basketball teams.
“At SportsTalk 790, we have some of the most knowledgeable sports experts and live and local programming in Houston,” said Erickson. “We’re extremely excited for this new lineup, which will provide Houston’s sports fans with even more exciting updates, insights and compelling conversation about the teams they love.”
Full Programming Lineup:
“The Josh Innes Show” 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
“In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu” 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
“The Matt Thomas Show” 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
“The Bottom Line” 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
iHeartMedia Houston has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises – both broadcast and digital – including SUNNY 99.1, 94.5 The Buzz, The All-New 93.7 The Beat, KTRH and SportsTalk 790 – and produces legendary marquee events including Buzzfest and The Houston Beat Down.
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in the Houston market and its content is available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast station; online via its branded digital site; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in- one streaming music and live radio service – with its more than a billion downloads and 100 million registered users.
Earlier this month I posted What does 740 KTRH think of News92 FM KROI? Today we know the answer. AM Operations Manager and KTRH Program Director Bryan Erickson sent mikemcguff.com this statement:
"We’re focused on what we do – and what we’ve done for the past 80-plus years – and that’s provide our listeners with timely information and compelling content day in and day out. Our commitment to news, weather and traffic coverage is at the core of what we do. It’s why public officials have referred to KTRH as their official radio station.
We have an outstanding team of anchors, reporters, producers and support staff that work tirelessly to provide news, weather and traffic reports 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Every big story over the past eight decades has played out over the airwaves of KTRH. We’ve been there as storms roared ashore and hundreds of thousands of people were in the dark, their only lifeline a battery powered radio tuned to KTRH, and we’ve been there when terror attacks on our country’s soil struck fear in our the hearts of millions and a calming voice was needed in a time of despair and uncertainty. No matter the story, no matter the time of day, the one constant for Houstonians has been tuning to KTRH to be informed and that continues to be true today and will continue to be true for years to come.
Regarding the new station, it’s unfortunate for them that technical issues continue to delay their launch. It must be frustrating for them. I know we’d hate to be limited to talking about how we’re going to cover news while the heritage information station in the market continues to cover the events that shape our lives on a daily basis without missing a beat. On a personal note, it is good to see so many of our former colleagues who’ve been out of the business for so long getting another opportunity in our industry. We wish them the best.
We will continue to evolve to meet our listeners’ needs as technology changes how people get their news and we’re excited about our multiple platforms which reach far beyond traditional methods of delivering information. Whether it’s AM 740, www.ktrh.com or the free iHeartRadio app on your smart phone, KTRH is everywhere our listeners need us to be."
News 92FM KROI debuts Monday at 5am. This weekend on 92.1, there are construction noises with messages from the staff as well as ABC anchors like Diane Sawyer, George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts...etc.
Houston, Texas – Oct 2, 2018 – iHeartMedia Houston and the Houston Rockets today announced a continuation of their long-term partnership to keep Sportstalk 790 AM, Houston's Live & Local Sports Talk radio station, the home of the Houston Rockets.
Rockets fans will continue to hear all regular season games, in addition to pre-game, post-game as well as all other Rockets’ related programming on Sportstalk 790 AM. In addition, all the games will also broadcast on 94.5 HD channel 2 and many of the games will be simulcast on KTRH AM 740 and 99.1 HD channel 2.
“I am excited to continue our incredible partnership with the Houston Rockets. The future for both iHeartMedia and the Houston Rockets looks very bright,” said Eddie Martiny, iHeartMedia Region President. “I’d like to thank Tad Brown, Daryl Morey, Tilman Fertitta and the entire Rockets organization for providing Rockets fans a team that annually competes for championships.”
“We couldn’t be more excited for the upcoming season of Rockets basketball and are glad to continue our partnership with Sportstalk 790,” said Rockets Chief Executive Officer Tad Brown. “Craig Ackerman and Matt Thomas are an incredible one-two punch for Rockets fans to enjoy throughout the season.”
The Rockets open the regular season at home against New Orleans on Wednesday, October 17.
“We’re thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with the Rockets. The team is poised to make a championship run and the next several seasons promise to be very exciting,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming, iHeartMedia Houston.
Sportstalk 790 AM is also the radio home for the Houston Astros as well as The University of Texas football and basketball.
Full Programming Lineup:
“The Josh Innes Show” 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
“In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu” 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
iHeartMedia Houston has a strong cross-platform presence and includes a number of iconic brands and franchises – both broadcast and digital – including SUNNY 99.1, 94.5 The Buzz, 93.7 The Beat, KISS FM, Newsradio 740 KTRH, AM 950 KPRC and SportsTalk 790 – and produces legendary marquee events including Buzzfest and The Houston Beat Bash.
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in the Houston market and its content is available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast station; online via its branded digital site; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music and live radio service – with its more than 1.7 billion downloads and 120 million registered users.
(This post was taken from a release sent to me by iHeartMedia Houston)
Newsradio 740 KTRH announced today that Shara Fryer will join its news team, effective Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Fryer will anchor Houston's Morning News with Matt Patrick from 5-8:00 a.m.
Fryer spent more than 25 years working in broadcast television at ABC 13 (KTRK), where she covered stories from Houston and around the globe. She is also an award winning journalist, conducting interviews with presidents, foreign heads of state, well known Texans and national and international celebrities. Fryer currently serves as Director of the World Affairs Council of Houston. As a cancer survivor, she devotes much of her time to various cancer outreach programs and established the Shara Fryer Cancer Research Fund in the Department of Surgical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
"Shara is a pro with an incredible reputation and we are fortunate to have her join our talented team at KTRH," said Eddie Martiny, President and Market Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "Over 25 years of major market broadcast excellence combined with her commitment to numerous charities in Houston make Shara the perfect choice for mornings on KTRH. This further proves KTRH's commitment to serving Houston with the most up to date news and information."
"I'm excited by the energy and raw spirit of radio. It's a brand new world for me and I see Clear Channel with iHeartRadio as an innovator for a new future of broadcasting," said Fryer. "There's a spark with Matt and the entire KTRH team that I hope listeners will feel and join us weekday mornings. I'm thrilled to be a part of the energy, conversation and connection of KTRH and our community."
"We are thrilled to have Shara on board," said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Operations, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "Shara will bring an unmatched level of credibility and trust as a veteran news anchor. For over two decades Houstonians welcomed her into their homes on a nightly basis and now they can ride to work with her."
The KTRH Newsradio 740 programming line-up:
· Houston's Morning News with Matt Patrick and Shara Fryer from 5-8:00 a.m.
· The Michael Berry Show from 8-11:00 a.m. and 5-7:00 p.m.
· Rush Limbaugh from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
· Sean Hannity from 2-5:00 p.m.
790 KBME, Houston’s Home for Sports Talk, announced today the addition of the nationally syndicated The Jay Mohr Show, beginning today, Monday, August 5. The Jay Mohr Show will broadcast weekdays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
The Jay Mohr Show features the actor, comedian and sports personality’s take on the latest sports news in addition to conversations with top athletes and celebrities. The live, daily sports talk and entertainment program is highlighted by Mohr's trademark comedic style and unique perspective as a multi-media star, coupled with his engaging personality and interaction with listeners.
“As a stand-up comic, Houston has always been one of my all-time favorite cities. Being on radio in Houston is incredible to me,” said Mohr. “Houston is a great city with great people and great teams. I won't let Houston down. People need to have some laughs when they listen to their radio shows.”
"We are thrilled to add Mohr to our All Star lineup,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "Mohr is one of the most entertaining personalities in radio right now.”
Other lineup changes include Lance Zierlein and Adam Clanton moving to mornings, followed by In the Trenches with Greg Koch and N.D. Kalu. Matt Thomas follows Mohr’s new show and Charlie Pallilo wraps things up with the The Drive Home weekday afternoons.
The KBME Sportstalk 790 programming line-up:
• Lance Zierlein & Adam Clanton from 6-9:00 a.m.
• In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu from 9-11:00 a.m.
• The Jay Mohr Show from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Matt Thomas from 2-4:00 p.m.
• The Drive Home with Charlie Pallilo 4-7:00 p.m.
Fans can listen to KBME Sportstalk 790, on the station’s website, sports790.com, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel’s best-in-class customizable digital listening experience, offering more than 850 of the nation's most popular live broadcast and digital-only radio stations, plus user-created Custom Stations which provide listeners more songs, better music intelligence, more user control and deeper social media integration, all combined in one free, fully-integrated service.
(This post is from a release sent to me by Clear Channel Houston)
John Wesley Downey combines his experiences in talk radio and filmmaking into a weekly show, "The Movie Show," on 950 AM KPRC, Sundays at 8 pm, starting April 6, 2025.
"Years ago, I did general interest talk shows on KILT 610 and FM 100.3," Downey told mikemcguff.com. "I always said I'd only do one if I could host a talk show about movies. So, when IHeartRadio Regional VP Bryan Erickson offered me a Sunday night slot on 950 KPRC, I was thrilled. As a filmmaker now, I can bring a lot to the show, and we'll cover everything about movies."
Currently, Downey is wrapping up production on his non-profit Star Wars fan film, "Back to the Lucas," a comedy-drama that explores both Star Wars and Back to the Future.
Downey started in radio while still a teenager. Working for stations such as 100.3 KILT, 610 KILT, and now both 740 KTRH and 950 KPRC.
As far as real Hollywood, over the years, Downey has interviewed the likes of film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, director Ron Howard, actress Shirley MacLaine, actor Slim Pickens, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, actor Patrick Swayze, and Jaws producer David Brown.
Earlier this afternoon, I posted that longtime San Antonio based 950am morning man Joe Pags was parting ways with his Houston show.
Now the Walton and Johnson Facebook page says the show is returning Tuesday at 5:30am in Houston. It just so happens that all of KPRC's online sites say tune in Tuesday at 5:30am to hear a new show. Coincidence?
Now most people know that Walton and Johnson broadcast from Houston to a bunch of different radio stations in the region. Since December 2012, when they were let go from 93.7 The Arrow, they've still been living in broadcasting from Houston to the other cities, just not to a local station. From what I understand, they were still even broadcasting from Clear Channel Houston under a lease agreement.
So now the two are probably returning to their home pre-Arrow which was 950 KPRC. When the longtime morning duo showed up on KPRC in 2007, the station even totally re-branded to the 9-5-0 Radio Mojo. It's ironic that now the duo is returning, the station just re-branded to KPRC AM 950 last month.
UPDATE 4/30/2013 8AM
OFFICIAL WORD FROM CLEAR CHANNEL HOUSTON:
950 KPRC ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE WALTON & JOHNSON SHOW
Houston, Texas – April 30, 2013 – 950 KPRC, Houston's More Stimulating Talk Radio, announced today the return of The Walton & Johnson Show, beginning today, Tuesday, April 30. The Walton & Johnson Show will broadcast weekdays from 5:30-10:00 a.m.
The Walton & Johnson Radio Show is one of the most respected and universally imitated radio programs in the nation. The show offers listeners a unique mix of "stream of consciousness,"opinionated and compelling talk, celebrity guests, musical elements, fictional characters,famous impersonations and skits. The show features John Walton and Steve Johnson, who are affectionately known as the Radio “Gawds” by their dedicated listeners and advertisers.
"We are thrilled to have Walton & Johnson back on KPRC," said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. "They have a proven track record of great ratings and we look forward to them continuing that success on KPRC.”
KPRC AM 950's updated programming line-up:
• Walton & Johnson from 5:30-10:00 a.m.
• The Glenn Beck Show from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Michael Garfield from 12-2:00 p.m.
• Matt Patrick from 2-5:00 p.m.
• Janine Turner from 5-7:00 p.m.
• Outlaw Dave from 7-9:00 p.m.
Houston Astros stay with Clear Channel Houston, but move up the dial from 740 KTRH to Sportstalk 790 KBME
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston and The Houston Astros today announced a multi-year agreement to make Sportstalk 790 the new home of the Houston Astros beginning with the 2013 MLB season.
“I am excited that our valuable partnership with the Houston Astros will continue. Having the Houston Astros on KBME along with being the home of the Houston Rockets and U of H football and basketball will make KBME Houston’s premiere sports outlet,” said Eddie Martiny,President/Market Manager, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston. “I am confident Jim Crane and his talented staff are building a championship caliber baseball franchise that Houstonians will be proud of. The Astros move to the American league will bring the Yankees, Red Sox and our in state rival Texas Rangers to Minute Maid Park. Our team at KBME is extremely excited to be covering all the Astros action on the radio; America’s favorite way to take in a ballgame.”
Under the agreement, Astros fans will be able to hear all regular season and spring training games in addition to pre-game, post-game and other Astros’ related programming on Sportstalk 790.
“We are pleased to continue our relationship with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment,” said Astros President and CEO George Postolos. “Our fans will enjoy a first-class, entertaining and informative radio broadcast on Houston's premiere sports station - Sportstalk 790.”
The new era of Houston Astros baseball on Sportstalk 790 has already begun with Thursday night broadcasts of “Astroline” from 7-8 p.m. CT. The first spring training game is scheduled for Saturday, February 23 with the regular season debut on Sunday, March 31 against American League rivals The Texas Rangers.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Astros. Baseball is a radio sport and we look forward to broadcasting all the action for this coming season and beyond,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Houston.
Sportstalk 790 is also the radio home for the Houston Rockets and University of Houston Cougars’ football and basketball.
The KBME Sportstalk 790 programming line-up:
• The Big Show with Matt Jackson & Adam Wexler from 6-10:00 a.m. CT.
• In the Trenches with Koch & Kalu from 10 a.m.-12 noon. CT.
• Matt Thomas from noon to 3:00 p.m. CT.
• The Drive Home with Charlie Pallilo & Lance Zierlein from 3-7:00 p.m. CT.
(This post was from a Clear Channel Houston release sent to me)
Lana Hughes and J.P. Pritchard are out of 740 KTRH after 27 years. And now the station drops the news front and goes with the talk moniker.
"This is an exciting time for our station," Clear Channel Houston AM Operations Manager Bryan Erickson said in a statement. "Like other forms of media, we have to continue to adapt. We have to serve our listeners by being informative and entertaining. Lana and JP are an institution in Houston, they are true professionals, and we, along with our listeners, will miss hearing their comforting voices every morning. We know our new show has big shoes to fill."
With a change in the morning show comes a change in direction for KTRH. No more NewsRadio 740 KTRH branding. Now the station is called NewsTalk 740. That's because the days of this station being a news station have been fading quickly over the last years. Clearly it is a conservative talk station now with no apologies. History buffs will note that KTRH used to be a talk station in the early 80s too. KTRK 13 investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino had a talk show on it.
Well we should have seen this coming. Just last week I linked to the Denver Post article stating that Lois Melkonian was on her way to Houston. Melkonian was just a talk show host at Denver Clear Channel station KOA (KTRH is a Clear Channel station). While she just did talk, Melkonian does have news experience having worked at KCBS radio and KGO-TV in San Francisco as an anchor/reporter.
But the star of the new show according to the Clear Channel press release is Matt Patrick. In fact the show that debuts July 5th (5 to 9am) is actually called “Houston’s Morning News with Matt Patrick.”
In fact here is video of Matt Patrick taking Texas to task from his website:
According to a station release, Patrick has been splitting time between Indiana (95.3 MNC, Michiana) and Ohio (WTAM, Cleveland and WLW, Cincinnati) and will be moving to Houston, along with his wife and three children. mattpatrickshows.com
The station adds the rest of the show lineup remains the same. I assume there will still be news updates at top and bottom of the hour too.
Now back to Lana and JP. I posted how both legendary news anchors were inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2009. Just two years ago, KTRH sent me this release about the radio duo:
Through it all, “Lana and JP” have been the staple of the morning radio landscape in Houston. They are currently enjoying very high ratings, as good as ever. “Lana and JP are as good as they’ve ever been, and they get better every day,” said Houston market manager Eddie Martiny. “They’re just now starting to hit their stride. We think they have at least 25 more great years to inform and entertain Houstonians.”
No doubt, JP and Lana have been the first voices many Houstonians have heard in the morning for many, many years. That puts them in a special place for many listeners. They sounded great and had tremendous chemistry together. They did what they could over the last few years with the dwindling resources they were given as a result of cutbacks.
Think about it, a decade ago, Lana and JP has a huge news staff behind them on the streets and freeways (traffic) telling Houston what was happening with news and traffic. Trust me when I say that KTRH was pre-set number one on the car radios of the other journalists in town. That clearly changed over the last decade as more and more news blocks disappeared in favor of syndicated talk shows. This reminds us that broadcasting is a business about money and not news coverage. These talks shows do after all get ratings or they would not be there.
But out of respect for these two broadcasting giants, here are Lana and JP's bios:
A native Houstonian, Lana Hughes is a graduate of Conroe High School and has a B.A. in English and journalism/communications from Baylor University. Her career began as a newspaper reporter at the Daily Courier in Conroe, before going into broadcasting at Conroe's KIKR. She first joined KTRH as weekend anchor and field reporter, before teaming up with JP Pritchard on the KTRH Morning News.
Lana's lifelong passions are writing and animals! Her love of both come together in her blog, Animal House. Her pet page showcases the efforts of area rescue groups and shelters to help those with no voice, and is dedicated to providing news and information to help stop the needless suffering of abused, neglected and abandoned animals.
JP Pritchard has been anchoring at NewsRadio 740 KTRH since 1982, and with Lana Hughes as his on-air partner since 1984. JP received a degree in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. After doing stints as reporter/anchor and news director at radio stations in the midwest, he was recruited to be news director at KULF Radio, now KBME SportsTalk 790. He and Lana have won many awards honoring their work as writers, anchors and interviewers. And JP and Lana have won the "Best Anchor Team" and "Best Newscast" awards several times from the Texas AP Broadcasters. In 2000, JP won the "Best Documentary" award for a two-hour production on the history of Houston. He and his wife, Esther, and have three grown sons and two grandsons.
Clearly News 92 FM is challenging longtime Houston station NewsRadio 740 KTRH in its promos. AM Operations Manager and KTRH Program Director Bryan Erickson sent mikemcguff.com these comments about News 92's inaugural broadcast:
"From what I heard (it was tough to pick up north of the Loop), I was surprised to hear so little local news content. They do have slick promos; I actually heard more of those than I did local news coverage. I got a kick out of several of their promos, especially the “we cover more local news than other stations” promos. In one hour this morning I counted 8 local stories in their newscasts while in that same hour we did more than 20. I guess their “No Spin” phrase doesn’t apply to everything they’re doing.
I was also surprised to hear a talk show in the 9a hour after weeks of hearing this was going to be an all news station.
There’s obviously a clear difference between our two stations – We have a strong commitment to local news coverage and compelling talk and they’re still trying to figure out what they want to be."
Sportstalk 790 KBME morning team man Lance Zierlein tweeted this morning he was moving to afternoons with Charlie Pallilo.
“The Drive Home with Charlie & Lance” starts Monday 9/24 at 3pm.
That's not the only change. The station tells me it's also adding a Houston Texans post game show to the lineup. It will be hosted by the station's two resident former NFL players Greg Koch and N.D. Kalu. The show goes live the second the Texans game is over each week.
"Fans no longer have to sit through a 30-minute network post game show following the game," Clear Channel AM Operations Manager Bryan Erickson told mikemcguff.com. "They can now sound off on the game on 790 with Greg and N.D. as they’re leaving the stadium."
Here's the rest of the 790 KBME schedule:
Monday-Friday*
6a-10a The Big Show with Matt and Adam
10a-12p In the Trenches with Koch and Kalu
12p-3p Matt Thomas
3p-7p The Drive Home with Charlie and Lance
7p-9p Mighty After Dark
*All programming subject to pre-emption by sports play by play.
Michael Garfield was an influencer before the word was connected to online dancing and "get ready with me" moments.
"I had to do it the old-fashioned way," Garfield told mikemcguff.com. "I had to shake hands, knock on doors, and promote myself way before social media."
All that work is paying off as the broadcaster connected to the "High Tech Texan" brand is expanding his weekend 950 KPRC Houston show to Talk Radio 1190 KFXR Dallas and News Radio 1200 WOAI San Antonio (already airing in the Alamo City, hitting DFW airwaves this weekend).
With the syndicated radio show heading to other big-market Texas stations, Garfield's iHeartMedia boss, Bryan Erickson, told him, "It's a good thing you didn't call yourself the High Tech Houstonian."
That name never materialized because Garfield, AKA Garf to his fans, has been a statewide presence for many years, going back to where many people first heard of him, as the voice and face for then Time Warner Cable's "Road Runner" high-speed internet service. He would later contribute to WFAA 8 DFW.
Garfield's "High Tech Texan" branding moved from ad campaigns to the radio for the then eight Clear Channel Houston stations, including his now decades-running show on 950 KPRC.
In fact, at 23 years running, Garf's radio show is the longest-running local radio show in the history of the 100-year-old KPRC-AM. That gives Garf the second-longest tenure at the now-named iHeartMedia Houston radio stations, only behind Sunny 99.1 KODA morning host Dana Tyson.
Now that the long-lasting local show is going to North and South Texas, Garfield will introduce himself to the new listeners so they know he is beyond a potentially boring tech show about fixing computers.
"That's the last thing I will do or I have ever done," Garfield explained. "It's more about consumer lifestyle and products. I actually talk more about car and truck test drives and new recommendations than I talk about computers and laptops."
He certainly has the scoop on new auto releases. As a Texas Auto Writers Association member, Garfield no longer uses his personal car. A new one is delivered to his house every week for review. He estimates that in the past 15 years, he has test-driven more than 800 cars.
Beyond cars, Garfield delves into fashion trends and pop culture, all with a sense of humor.
"I answer many questions that people have before they go out and make purchases, large purchases, expensive purchases," Garfield told me. "But if you don't entertain them, I don't think a lot of people continue to tune in."
Even though he now joins the ranks of syndicated Houston radio show hosts such as Michael Berry and Jesse Kelly, Garfield avoids political talk.
"I do not engage in politics, but I, without a doubt, have my opinions, and I've probably ticked off a lot of Aggies over the years with my love for the Texas Longhorns," said Garfield, who attended the 2024 SEC Championship in a decked out University of Texas themed private jet. "That's about as controversial as I'll get."
While his radio career has steadily beamed through the airwaves, Garfield is also ready to supercharge his television resume.
"I started on TV," Garf said. "My first job was on QVC. I was the youngest show host ever to be on QVC at 24 years old. To be on national TV, you had to learn how to talk to viewers, position, and sell products."
The QVC experience landed Garfield on KPRC 2 Houston mornings in the early 2000s before radio and the Road Runner ads
Now, you can find him down the dial at KHOU 11 as a live field correspondent with Deborah Duncan on "Great Day Houston." He will also fill in as the "Great Day" host one day next week while Duncan taking time off.
"TV has always been a goal, it's always been a dream," Garf admitted. "I love doing it and I hope I can continue to do it before I get wrinkly and gray."
Not that Benjamin Button, like Garfield, has to worry about aging quickly with his daily workouts and the great head of hair he says he inherited from his mother.
The University of Houston Department of Athletics and Learfield IMG College, the university's multimedia rights partner, have announced that KPRC 950 AM will be extending its partnership and continue to serve as its flagship station for Houston Cougars Football and Men's Basketball for the next three years.
A member of the iHeartMedia group and sister station to SportsTalk 790 AM, KPRC 950 AM offers UH fans a consistent spot on their radio dial. The Cougars are the only sports organization to call the station its home.
"We look forward to continuing our partnership with iHeartMedia Houston and KPRC 950-AM," Vice President for Athletics Chris Pezman said. "We are thankful for their dedicated support over the last seven years and we looked for to this valuable partnership continuing to grow in the future."
KPRC 950 AM will also continue to serve as the home for the weekly in-season Dana Holgorsen and Kelvin Sampson Radio Shows. Fans can check out the 2020 Houston Football broadcast scheduled by clicking here.
"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with the University of Houston and Learfield IMG College for another three years," said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston. "We look forward to bringing the Houston community all of the action and excitement of Cougar football and basketball for years to come".
Kevin Eschenfelder returns for his eighth season as the Voice of the Cougars for Houston Football and he will continue to be joined in the booth by analyst Ted Pardee, who enters his 15th season as a member of the UH broadcast team.
Sideline reporter Jeremy Branham and returns to the field for the eighth straight year, while Matt Thomas kicks things off one hour prior to kickoff with the Houston Football Pregame Show.
Branham also returns as the Voice of the Cougars for Houston Men's Basketball and will be joined by Houston great Elvin Hayes, who enters his 11th season as the team's analyst.
KPRC 950 AM will also continue to be the home for weekly in-season Dana Holgorsen and Kelvin Sampson Radio Shows.
"Randy was one of the most gifted persons I knew who had the gift of gab but also knew everything about his expertise - gardening," fellow Houston IHeartRadio host and good friend Michael Garfield told mikemcguff.com. "He was a fixture in the Houston market for a quarter century and his listeners across the region followed his advice to keep their lawns green and flowers blooming. He and I had a special bond on our weekend radio shows that included laughter and the joy of entertaining listeners while giving each other a good amount of ribbing. He will be missed by many."
According to post on his GardenLine Facebook page, Lemmon died of a stroke while in New York City earlier today which is also his 61st birthday.
“Randy had an unbridled passion for being on the radio and for helping people with their gardening issues. We should all be so fortunate to do something in life that brings us such joy. He will be missed,” said Bryan Erickson, Director of AM Programming for iHeartMedia Houston.
On a personal note, when I worked as a Houston TV producer, I would often use Lemmon as an expert in our stories. A very nice guy, who would even answer my personal garden questions via email.
On-air radio tribute to Randy Lemmon from the 740 KTRH "GardenLine" 1-8-2023 with Michael Garfield
On-air radio tribute to Randy Lemmon from the 740 KTRH "GardenLine" 1-7-2023 with Nikki Courtney
(Jan 4, 2023) HOUSTON--Randy Lemmon, Houston radio host of The GardenLine program on 740 KTRH, died today. He passed away at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City of complications due to a stroke. He was surrounded by his family.
For over 25 years. Lemmon hosted the weekend gardening program, during which he shared all sorts of tips, tricks and serious science for handling this area's unique climate. In what he called the “Most-listened-to Garden show in the country”, he was faithfully followed by serious landscapers as well as the weekend gardener as he shared his enthusiasm and advice about lawns, gardens and outdoor living. He was a go-to expert when climate issues became serious or dangerous to the public such as during hurricanes and deep freezes.
Before his radio program Randy spent years as a television and radio producer for the Texas Farm Bureau. He then spent nearly a decade at his alma mater- Texas A&M University producing news and commentary for an agricultural network he created with the College of Agriculture. One of his responsibilities was producing the R.C. Slocum show.
Randy authored four books on everything from fertilizer schedules to the 10 commandments of mulch. His most recent book, New Decade Gardening: a Gulf Coast Guide can be found at nurseries, garden centers and feed stores in and around the greater Houston area. Over the past few years in addition to his radio program Randy shared his passion and expertise with homeowners throughout the Gulf Coast region through his company, Randy Lemmon Consulting.
He was born Randal Scott Lemmon on January 4, 1962 in Whittier, California to Richard “Dick” Lemmon and Phyllis Lemmon. The family moved to Houston where Randy attended Robert E. Lee High school and went on to Texas A&M University where he graduated in 1984 with a BS degree in Journalism. While at Texas A&M he lived in Moses Hall. Later while working for the University’s College of Agriculture, Randy earned a Master of Science in Agriculture degree.
In addition to Randy’s passion for all things growing, he was known for his sense of humor, his cooking skills, and his passion for Aggie football and Astros baseball. Randy also enjoyed other hobbies including concerts, disc golf, racquetball and Broadway shows. He was a devoted father to his son, Randal, and his daughter Selena. He was completely supportive of their activities including Randal’s competitive tennis and Selena’s growing music success.
Randy was predeceased by his parents and his uncle, Tommy Lemmon. Randy was married for 22 years to Yvonne Lemmon, and is survived by Yvonne and their children, Randal, 21 and Selena, 16. He is also survived by his sister, Terri Langer (Ron) and his Sister-in-laws, Jennifer Spriggs (Kevin) and Melissa Salce (Joab), as well as nieces; Lindsey Langer, Lauren Langer, Jessica Spriggs, Jamie Spriggs, Paighton Salce, and nephews Preston Salce and Parker Salce. He's also survived by his aunt Janelle and Ron Stokes and their two sons, Conner and Reid.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to Salem Lutheran Church
SSM, 22601 Lutheran Church Road, Tomball, TX 77377. Cards of
condolences can be sent to Randy Lemmon, C/O Yvonne Lemmon, FM2920 STE
G#540, Tomball, TX 77377.
Plans for Randy Lemmon's celebration of life are as follows:
Monday, January 16, 2023 at 1pm
22601 Lutheran Church Road Tomball, TX
Celebration of Life for Randy Lemmon at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball
Open to all
The Lemmon family requests that guests wear green or a Lemmonhead shirt if they have them.
