Air America finds local home
Air America, the liberal radio network featuring such talents as Janeane Garofalo and Al Franken, is finally coming to the Boston area. Beginning Monday, two small stations, Framingham's WKOX-AM (1200) and Medford's WXKS-AM (1430), will carry the fledgling network.
The stations, which are owned by
The two stations will be leaving the Air America stable for two weekday shifts, both of which will be staffed by liberal syndicated hosts from Jones Broadcasting. Stephanie Miller, who has guest-hosted CNBC's "Equal Time," will take over 9 a.m.-noon, and Ed Schultz, the author of "Straight Talk From the Heartland," will handle afternoon drive, 3-6 p.m.
Night and weekend programming at the stations hasn't been finalized but will likely include rebroadcasts of the daytime shows, as well as Air America "best of" programming.
Air America, which debuted in late March and is on 33 other stations across the country, can also be heard on XM and Sirius satellite radio services. Although it is carried by WHMP-AM (1400) in Northampton, WKOX and WXKS are the network's first outlets in the Greater Boston area.
WKOX has been a Spanish-language station, with some local programming. WXKS has had a format of nostalgic music from the pre-rock era.
Joe Mazzei, a spokesman for the stations, said the change is overdue. "There is so much conservative talk on the air, this will definitely stand out," he said by phone.
In a prepared statement, Denis O'Heron, program director for the two stations, said: "Boston is the birthplace of the American Revolution. And the revolution begins on Monday morning. It doesn't matter where you fall on the political spectrum."
The hoax is in
William Shatner was in Iowa this week, telling an entire town that he had just played an enormous prank on it, and the results would be airing on television early next year.Shatner, who won an Emmy last month for his work on ABC's "The Practice" and stars in its spinoff, "Boston Legal," fronted the hoax for Spike TV and "Joe Schmo Show" creators Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The result, "Invasion Iowa," will debut on the cable channel in 2005.
"Invasion Iowa" will tell the story of a fake film production in Riverside, Iowa -- a town of 978 south of Iowa City that, in "Star Trek" lore, is the birthplace of Shatner's character, Captain/Admiral James T. Kirk. The production spent 10 days in town, hiring locals as actors and crew members, before revealing the prank.
"I fell in love with the people of Riverside," Shatner says. "And the hardest part of this whole experience was containing my empathy for the individuals who listened to and identified with the soap opera that we played out in front of them." The goal, the producers say, was to poke fun at the excesses of Hollywood, using locals as both characters and audience. Shatner presented the town with a check for $100,000, to go toward city services, for its trouble.
span class="signer"> KNIGHT RIDDER
On Boston.com
Noon: Chat with Globe political columnists Dan Payne and Mickey Edwards about last night's presidential debate.
Globe on NECN
Here's what's happening on "Around the Globe" today on NECN:
9:30 a.m.: "Talk of New England" 12:30 p.m.: "Globe at Home" -- assistant business editor Doreen Iudica Vigue and Matt Kelly, drummer for the Boston band the Dropkick Murphys, offer home stereo shopping advice. 4 p.m.: "Around the Globe" 6:30 p.m.: "New England Business Day" 8 p.m.: "NewsNight" Schedule is subject to change.Talk of the dial
6 a.m. WBIX-AM (1060) -- "Early Exchange." Guest: David H. Thompson, chief financial officer of Hale and Dorr Capital Management LLC.
Other radio highlights
9 a.m. WUMB-FM (91.9) -- "Guest Mix." Host Dick Pleasant welcomes guests for live performances.
1 p.m. WGBH-FM (89.7) -- "Boston Symphony Orchestra." Daniele Gatti, conductor; Mozart's Symphony No. 40.
