To Your Credit

[Blog Propriety] One good thing about City Weekly: We are all about giving people credit for their original sourcing and hard work.

A post I had written earlier in the week referenced a hot rumor mill about what KSL radio honchos intend to do with the Nightside Project after the first of the year. While news that the once-inventive nightly talk show is sputtering to an end is something anyone with two ears and a brain stem could figure out (and I have at least that much going for me), the good people at this blog notified me they deserve credit in ruminating over Nightside's coming replacement. So noted, and thanks for letting me know. (Holly Mullen)

Michael Castner Redux

[Radio] We're still keeping periodic tabs on Michael Castner, cast away from KSL Radio's Nightside Project in early November under the guise of budget cuts.

This talk radio-oriented blog emanates from Seattle, and was kind enough to cite our story on KSL's unceremonious dumping of show host and veteran radio guy Castner. From his home in Tooele, Castner tells us he's been "laying low," and "trying not to look in my rear view mirror." He adds he had nothing to do with the blogging interest in the story of his demise, or in helping it churn through the broadcasting world's rumor mill.

Meanwhile, Ethan Millard and Alex Kirry--former sidekicks and proteges of Castner--are hosting Nightside. We listen occasionally. Ethan and Alex are trying hard, but frankly, the show's wheels often seem to be spinning off. We miss a certain level of professionalism and timing that Castner brought.

The scuttlebutt around town (and mentioned in the Seattle-based blog above) is that KSL will pull the plug on Nightside after the first of the year. It's just too expensive, too scary for the dark suits and white shirts in the boardroom and simply a failed experiment in trying to get those crazy kids to listen in. Possible replacement? A local sports show. Just what this market needs. Because, you know, we could use at least 27 of them in this two-major-league-sport metropolis. Blah. And I'm a sports fan for hell's sake!

(Holly Mullen)

Michael Who?

[Radio Daze] KSL Radio's Nightside Project will go on the air tonight as usual, at 7. The only thing missing will be its host, Michael Castner.

After a much-heralded 17 months on the air in the 7-to-midnight time slot, Castner got canned yesterday morning (as first reported on this blog by City Weekly's Bill Frost). The official reason given to a bleary-eyed Castner at an 8 a.m. meeting: Budget cutting.

But Castner and others are wondering what it all really means, which is rather like trying to read the Kremlin wall. In an e-mailed statement, KSL program director Kevin LaRue called the move a "restructuring." He added, "the program’s talented and popular host, Michael Castner, will be leaving the Nightside staff to pursue other opportunities."

Though as of Friday afternoon, none of those "opportunities" had shown up yet for Castner, who has hired a media employment lawyer to work out a severance deal with the station. "We're in the middle of a ratings book, and we're number one in this time slot in the market. The math just doesn't add up as far as budget cuts go," Castner said in a telephone interview.

So tonight, Nightside goes on, but with a skeleton staff. "Politics Guru" Ethan Millard and reporter Alex Kirry will take over as co-hosts, a station source says. Chase Lauritsen will produce the show. No word on whether live chats with other regular "gurus" -- of TV and movies, personal finance and relationships -- will continue.

Increasingly, the show had been built almost exclusively around Castner, and, says one source, "there's a big hole left to fill." There's also loud rumbling about whether the layoff was more about Castner's acerbic, "in your face style." The subject of a City Weekly cover story on July 19 of this year, Castner once riffed on a show about wearing a t-shirt in high school that showed a baby with his hands down his pants, obviously playing with his "man junk."

Perhaps reality finally hit: Chatty moments about masturbation on the big 1160? Oh my heck, no! (Holly Mullen)