Gates Show Cut Back to Hour a Day

Less than two months after hiring him as a talk-show host, KFI-AM (640) is cutting former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates back from three hours a day to one in order to bring in a new talk-show team.

Gates was brought in last Sept. 29 as a replacement for KFI’s afternoon host Tom Leykis, who was fired because of a conflict with station management. Gates’ show has been airing weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. but, beginning Monday, his show will be on only from 3 to 4 p.m.

Taking over from 4 to 7 p.m. will be John Kobylt and Ken Champiou. Barbara Whitesides, heard from 6 to 9 p.m. since Gates’ arrival, will return to her previous time slot of 7 to 9 p.m.

Although management had steadfastly denied that Gates was hired to bridge the gap between the time of Leykis’ departure and the arrival of Kobylt and Champiou, KFI program director David Hall acknowledged Tuesday that that essentially was the case. Station executives did not own up to it earlier because they “wanted to make sure that all the pieces in the plan to replace Tom were nailed into place before talking about it,” he said.

“Gates is not being replaced,” Hall said. “He’s not leaving the radio station. He’s still on in a key day-part for us. We’re just reducing the amount of time that he’s on the air.”

Hall said the move was not influenced by listener complaints that Gates had a monotonous on-air style and that, with his appointment, the station’s programming had developed too strong of a conservative orientation.

“The criticism will always be there. Some think he’s dull and some don’t,” Hall said. “We think that Gates has and is continuing to serve his purpose on the radio station very well. . . . He gets more fan letters than Leykis did.” In the meantime, the new team of Kobylt and Champiou will be dealing with controversial issues, Hall said, although they also have a light, comedic style.

The pair came from a New Jersey radio station where they were best known for masterminding a listener “tax revolt” in which they enlisted audience members to protest tax increases to the New Jersey legislature.

“They have great chemistry,” Hall said. “They sound like two very entertaining, very intelligent people just having a great time on the radio.”