96.9 receives a new hip format change
Star 96.9 (KEZE-FM, “‘80s, ‘90s and Now”) died a quiet death late Monday night and was immediately reincarnated as Wired 96.9, with a new format known as “rhythmic contemporary hits.”
The new Wired 96.9 (“Blazin’ Today’s Hottest Music”) plays artists such as 50 Cent, Kanye West and Mariah Carey.
“We’re not pretending to be ‘hip-hop’ or ‘thug’ – we’re just playing rhythm-based hit music, period,” said Ken Hopkins of the KXLY Radio Group.
This format change will mean big changes at sister station KZZU-FM (92.9, The Zoo) as well, since rhythmic hits were among the staples of The Zoo.
For one thing, the Star morning team of Hopkins and Dave Sposito (best known as the Breakfast Boys), along with midday personality Molly Allen, will move over to KZZU’s morning show beginning Monday.
This will be a radio homecoming: Sposito and Hopkins were the reigning morning team at The Zoo from 1992 until 2003.
“It’s a little like being in an episode of ‘The Night Gallery,’ ” said Hopkins.
Meanwhile, KZZU’s contemporary hits format will be at least “tweaked and freshened.” They’re not saying exactly what that means. Tune in Monday morning to find out.
Will it still be called The Zoo, a moniker stretching back two decades? No word on that yet, either.
Al Franken in person
Al Franken – comedian, author, radio talk show host – will broadcast his Air America talk show live from the Big Easy in Spokane on Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Tickets are free, available at a series of “ticket-stops” sponsored by Spokane’s Air America affiliate, KPTQ-AM (1280).
Pick up tickets at Tinman Artworks, 811 W. Garland Ave., on Oct. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m., or at Applebee’s on the South Hill, 2007 E. 29th Ave., on Oct. 19 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Call the station at 242-2400 for more info about tickets.
Interplayers postponement
The Interplayers Ensemble’s next play, “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” has been postponed a week. It will open for previews on Oct. 27, with the official opening night on Oct. 29.
A theater spokesman said the change was made in order to allow actor Chris Bange, known in Seattle for his physical comedy talent, to be in this two-person camp-fest. Interplayers decided it was worth delaying the run a week to accommodate Bange’s schedule.
If you have tickets for that canceled first week, call Interplayers at 455-PLAY to reschedule.
‘Lion King’ art on display
Here’s a good way to get primed for the upcoming six-week run of “The Lion King” at the Spokane Opera House:
Go to the Davenport Hotel’s lobby and the adjoining Galleria DeFelice and check out the six “Lion King” masks, puppets and costumes on display.
These are originals, used in the Broadway run of this long-running smash hit. They are impressive works of art in themselves.
“The Lion King” will run 46 performances, from Oct. 27 through Dec. 4. The “official” opening night is Oct. 29 – the first two performances are considered previews.
Cabaret at the Davenport
Speaking of the Davenport, New York cabaret singer Mark Cotter will do two shows in the hotel’s Isabella Room on Nov. 19.
Cotter is well-known to local audiences from his roles in the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and a previous cabaret stint at the old Patsy Clark’s.
Tickets are $20 per person and hotel-stay packages are also available. Seating is limited to 100 people per show. Call Rose Swanson for reservations, 789-6808.
A wealth of cabaret
Meanwhile, don’t forget about Spokane’s own cabaret series featuring the terrific Abbey Crawford.
Crawford kicked off the series last weekend at the Spokane Civic Theatre’s Firth Chew Studio Theatre, and will continue with shows each month through March.
Next up: Shows Nov. 18 and 19 with the theme “Food, Glorious Food.”
Get tickets by calling 218-9732 or via e-mail at tickets@abbeycrawford.com.
Mother Even-More-Superior
When we said recently that Jean Hardie had played the Mother Superior in “Nunsense” 50 times, we misplaced about 100 performances.
If you add up all of the performances of “Nunsense,” “Nunsense II” and “Nuncrackers,” Hardie has donned the habit 150 times.
“Not that I’m counting or anything, but that’s a lot of kicks and splits,” she said.
Make that about 150 plus five, since she has done five more performances at Centerstage in “Nunsense II: The Second Coming,” since then.
The show continues through Nov. 18. Call the CenterStage box office at 747-8243 for reservations.
Tim Adams update
Tim Adams is back in uniform.
Adams, former weathercaster for KHQ-6, was sent to New Orleans last week as part of the U.S. Naval Reserve’s hurricane relief efforts.
Adams, who moved down to sister station KNDU-TV in Kennewick a year ago, has been deployed to various trouble spots around the world 10 times over his 26 years in the Naval Reserve.
Dress 4 Success
KXLY-FM (“Classy 99.9”) is in the midst of its annual “clean out your closets” weekend for the “Dress 4 Success” drive.
The station is asking people to donate all used professional suits, skirts and accessories for use by local women who need job-appropriate clothing for employment interviews and beyond.
Personalities Rick and Teresa Lukens, Beau Tyler and Leslie Lowe will collect donations at Scollard’s Dry Cleaning, 223 S. Hatch St. (Second and Hatch) on Monday between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Donations can also be dropped off at the KXLY Broadcast Center, 500 W. Boone Ave., through Nov. 5.