iHeartMedia Talk 640 KFI Los Angeles is adjusting its on-air schedule for the new year with the move of weekend host Morris ‘Mo’Kelly’ O’Kelly to evenings.
O’Kelly has been with KFI since 2011 first as a producer, and later weekend and fill-in host. He has also served as a producer for the Jim Rome, Ryan Seacrest and Tavis Smiley shows and does commentaries on iHeart’s “Black Information Network“. The new program is being described as a “variety show” more in the veins of a late night television show as opposed to talk show.
To make room for “Later, with Mo’Kelly” in the 7-10pm slot, KFI will move all of its current shows up. Morning host Bill Handel will now air from 6-9am instead of 6-10. Midday hosts Gary Hoffmann and Shannon Farren move from 10am-2pm to 9am-1pm. Longtime afternoon drive hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou move up to 1-4pm. Evening host Tim Conway Jr moves up from 6-10pm to 4-7pm.
Radio host Mo’Kelly is poised to put the “variety” back into talk radio, weeknights from 7-10pm on KFI AM640, LA’s #1 news/talk station and iHeartRadio.
Launching January 3rd, Later, with Mo’Kelly will offer not only conversations with Hollywood but complement them with unique analysis of the direction of industry from technological and cultural perspectives.
“Talk radio can be musical, joyful, comical and insightful; all at the same time,” said Mo’Kelly. “We’ve been devaluing the medium by believing otherwise and audiences deserve to have it all.”
Later, with Mo’Kelly will feature legends and upstarts, from comedy to music to film and TV. Mo’Kelly previously hosted the weekend radio program The Mo’Kelly Show, where he was honored with 4 LA Press Club awards, including “Radio Journalist of the Year” for 2020, a National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award and was named “Entertainer of the Year” by the Latin Business Association for 2021.
“Taking our inspirations from variety talk show greats like Carson, Leno and Arsenio (Hall), Later, with Mo’Kelly is bringing late-night television to the radio and changing the landscape of the news/talk format,” said Tawala Sharp, Executive Producer.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com