1/25/87-Hardwick Kicks KIXI to the curb; KFRE becomes KRKO again; Patti Par returns to KMPS morning show

Victor Stredicke – January 25, 1987 TWISTING THE DIAL

Bob Hardwick’s resignation as KIXI’s morning-show host was abrupt. A station spokesman quoted Hardwick as “calling from California” to say he wouldn’t be in, and that the veteran Seattle disc jockey was considering a career change. . . . Bob Liddle has returned as new morning host at KIXI, 880 kHz., and Jerry Mason has moved into afternoon drive-time segment.

Beau Roberts left KISW to join the rambunctious ex-KISW crew at KXRX, 96.5 mHz. Roberts got a little-bit-better shift from “the X” _ 6 to 10 p.m. weeknights.

The anniversary of the Challenger space-shuttle disaster is marked with a half-hour NBC documentary and a local panel-discussion follow-up, at 7 p.m. Friday on KING-AM.

KVI has dropped Paul Thompson, moved Jim Martin up from late-nights to the 7-to-midnight slot and added monomonikered Renee as the station’s late-night host.

NBC Radio coverage of Super Bowl XXI will begin on KIRO at 3 p.m. today, pregame features at 2 p.m. Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy provide network play-by-play and analysis.

Acknowledging the new Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio, KVI today continues with a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Weekend, playing only hall-of-fame nominees.

The “NBC Extra” for the week is a brief series of reports on compulsive gamblers _ those folks forever tempted by horse racing, casino gambling and state lotteries. The 90-second reports are heard at 6:35 and 8:35 a.m. weekdays on KING-AM.

February 1, 1987 …TWISTING THE DIAL

— Everett’s KFRE, 1380 kHz., is scheduled to return to its historical call letters, KRKO, today.

— Patti Par, former KMPS morning-traffic reporter, returns to the slot tomorrow, rejoining “The Morning Show,” with Ichabod Caine, Donn Riggs and Lisa Brooks. Par had transfered to a midday shift at KRPM, then deferred to weekends-only work so she’d be home more. After some tenuous bridge-building, she’s returned. Bob Behren handles afternoon traffic information.

— KTAC, 850 kHz. in Tacoma, is calling itself the official station of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, with a broadcast booth inside the Tacoma Dome for skater interviews and news reports. No descriptive broadcast of the triple jumps and axels, however.

— The Transtar Company supplies music formats to radio stations nationwide. One of their services, called “Format 41” (implying the median age of its target audience, no doubt), is contracted with KOMO. “The station is using some music programming,” said Ken Kohl, program director, and is using the service as a gauge of national music tastes.

— “The Harlem Hit Parade” begins at 8 p.m. Thursday on KCMU, 90.5 mHz. The syndicated music program examines lifestyles of early musicians and features popular black music. (The program also airs at 8 p.m. Saturday on KTPS, 91.7 mHz.)

— Looking ahead: Brotherhood Week will be observed Feb. 15 to 21 on KGNW, 820 kHz., with interviews and brief inspirational features.

. . . KIRO is conducting an Adopt-a-Sweetheart promotion, with listeners supplying valentines for patients at four major hospitals . .

. . Kent Phillips and Alan Budwill, “the Z Morning Crew,” are recruiting five KPLZ listeners who haven’t quite got the nerve to “pop the question” on Valentine’s Day. . . . Delilah-Rene broadcasts from a Ballard supermarket’s second “singles night” on Feb. 10. . . .

February is Black History Month on KUOW, KTPS and KKFX.