The much-loved “Kevin & Sluggo Show” was conspicuously absent from Los Angeles’ KLOS-FM on a recent Friday afternoon as their hosts, Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts, were handed their dismissal notices. The axing of the popular afternoon drive time slot on KLOS is the latest in a series of substantial cuts enforced by Meruelo Media, the station’s proprietor, on its various local radio stations, including “Power 106” (KPWR-FM), KDAY-FM, and “Cali 93.9” (KLLI-FM).
Earlier this year, all midday hosts across Meruelo’s four LA stations, as well as a number of part-time and off-air staff, were let go. This included Marci Wiser, a midday DJ at KLOS since 2015. In February, Power 106’s afternoon host DJ Felli Fel (also known as James Andrew Corrine), a veteran of the station since 2000, was also shown the door.
Ryder took to social media on Friday to reveal his and Roberts’ departure. In a twist of odd timing, KLOS had just announced a “Where’s Kevin?” promotional campaign with Honda… and then promptly sacked him.
For a while now, there have been whispers that Meruelo has been wanting to sell the stations. These rumours are even more plausible considering recent actions; the company sold its stake in the Arizona Coyotes, a professional hockey team, and its LA TV station, KWHY-TV (Channel 22), to the Church of Scientology.
In a talk with Variety, Ryder confirmed his and Roberts’ exit from KLOS, expressing his hopes that the station is sold to “someone who cares about it”.
The duo initiated the “Kevin & Sluggo” show on KLOS in 2021, a year after radio network Entercom, to the surprise of the industry, decided to pull the plug on Ryder’s morning show, “Kevin in the Morning with Allie & Jensen”. This program was itself the follow-on from the long-standing “Kevin & Bean” show, a staple for over three decades.
Prior to this, Sluggo had been hosting the afternoon drive slot solo on KLOS since the summer of 2019, continuing his shows on SiriusXM.
The coming together of Ryder and Roberts on KLOS can be seen as a reunion as sorts. Roberts had previously worked extended stints at KROQ under various personas including “Doug the Slug” and “Sluggo”, while Ryder and Gene “Bean” Baxter hosted KROQ’s morning show from the start of 1990. Their show “Kevin & Bean” was one of the leading morning shows in the LA market in the 2000s and saw them inducted into both the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Radio Hall of Fame.
Ryder’s friendship with Roberts predates their time at KROQ. The pair had previously worked together during the ’80s at Phoenix’s mainstream radio station, KZZP, where Baxter also worked along with long-time KROQ program director Kevin Weatherly. At KZZP, Roberts managed the mixing board while Ryder and Baxter hosted the “Saturday Night Party Patrol.”
Otto Padron, President and CEO of Meruelo Media, had touted the company’s commitment to live and local programming at the time of Ryder’s appointment, deeming Ryder’s hiring a “no-brainer” and a part of an audacious, disruptive move that brings captivating voices and pertinent content to their worthy audience.
A noteworthy fact: this reporter was a regular guest on “Kevin & Sluggo” discussing TV and was set to feature on the show the following Wednesday. Regrettably, it seems that won’t be happening.
FAQs:
1. Who owned KLOS-FM?
Meruelo Media owned KLOS-FM.
2. What were some other stations owned by Meruelo Media?
Other stations owned by Meruelo Media included KPWR-FM “Power 106,” KDAY-FM and KLLI-FM “Cali 93.9.”
3. Who were the hosts of “Kevin & Sluggo Show”?
Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts were the hosts of the “Kevin & Sluggo Show”.
4. What were the consequences of Meruelo Media’s downsizing at their radio stations?
The downsizing resulted in layoffs of several midday hosts, part-timers, off-air staffers and the cancellation of afternoon shows.
5. Why was the “Kevin & Sluggo Show” significant in LA radio?
The show marked a reunion between Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts, two longtime personalities in LA radio and their team-up represented a continued commitment to live, local programming.
Credit: variety.com