KIRO-FM cancellation of Pat Cashman's talk show riles fans

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KIRO-FM cancellation of Pat Cashman's talk show riles fans

Tuesday, April 6, 1999

By JOHN MARSHALL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Pat Cashman, whose morning show had been a fixture for four years on "the Buzz" (KIRO-FM), was replaced yesterday with a syndicated show, prompting an outpouring of angry calls from loyal listeners.

The substitution of "The Mark & Brian Radio Show" for Cashman is part of the station's strategy of appealing to young male listeners, according to Kris Olinger, program director. That audience has given strong ratings to Tom Leykis, whose show runs during afternoon drive time.

"Tom Leykis and Pat Cashman appealed to two different audiences and we felt that, for the station to be successful, we had to go for one audience," Olinger said yesterday. "Pat had more female appeal and was more family-oriented in his show. Tom has more male appeal and he's not suitable for families; his is definitely a show for young men."

Cashman, a longtime member of the Seattle media who is also a regular on "Almost Live!" on KING-TV, was informed last Friday that his show on the station had been terminated. He said yesterday that he was "somewhat surprised" by the move and that the decision made for a difficult weekend.

"The frustration for me is that there is never any real explanation when this happens in this business," Cashman stressed. "It's just, poof, you're gone. In another business, they might at least give you a watch or a cake or something."

Cashman added that he has "no prospects at this point" for taking his show to some other station in the Seattle market.

Phone lines at "The Buzz" were swamped yesterday as listeners registered their displeasure about the demise of Cashman's show, which was known for its cast of characters and its off-beat brand of humor. "We've had non-stop phone calls since the switchboard opened," said Olinger. "Many callers are very disappointed and some are very upset, as you would expect. Pat has a very loyal following in Seattle."

"The Mark & Brian Radio Program," which originates in Los Angeles, has twice resulted in co-hosts Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps being named by Billboard Magazine as "Air Personalities of the Year."

Phelps describes their show as being "about two guys, two buds, havin' a great time together."

Also replaced yesterday on "The Buzz," the only FM talk station in Seattle, was the show that followed Cashman at 10 a.m. -- "Dr. Tara." The replacement will be "Kennedy," a Seattle woman whose "Alternative Nation" video show is broadcast nightly on MTV.

Kennedy said of her new radio show, "We're going to be giving people motivation, inspiration, and occasionally, a little perspiration."

"The Buzz" is owned by Entercom, which owns seven other stations in the Seattle market, including KIRO-AM, a perennial ratings powerhouse.